Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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Microsoft President Brad Smith joins Axios’ Mike Allen to explain why he thinks some tech leaders got the AI jobs panic wrong.

The conversation covers the backlash to AI, what young workers should understand now, and why the next phase of the technology may depend on whether companies can prove it helps people do more, not just replace them.

Timestamps:
0:00 - Why young people are booing AI
1:41 - “Let’s not panic”
3:56 - Did tech leaders overhype AI job losses?
5:50 - What companies should learn from the AI backlash
6:48 - Will AI take all the jobs?
7:36 - Can AI win young people back?
8:57 - What’s at stake for the American Dream
10:12 - What’s really behind tech layoffs
12:04 - Brad Smith’s advice for young workers
13:35 - Which jobs are most exposed to AI?
16:05 - Why AI companies want regulation
18:36 - Should the government own part of AI companies?
19:46 - Brad Smith’s first job