{"id":2576,"date":"2026-04-22T05:05:04","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T09:05:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/salaryfor.com\/blog\/?p=2576"},"modified":"2026-04-22T05:05:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T09:05:04","slug":"verizon-ceo-on-ai-and-unemployment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/salaryfor.com\/blog\/verizon-ceo-on-ai-and-unemployment\/","title":{"rendered":"Verizon CEO on AI and Unemployment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By SalaryFor.com – real salaries for all professions<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since Dan Schulman took the helm at Verizon in October 2025, he has become one of the most vocal\u2014and perhaps most sobering\u2014voices in the corporate world regarding the “AI Revolution.”<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While many CEOs speak in platitudes about AI being a “co-pilot,” Schulman has taken a more blunt approach, warning that the economic shift could lead to levels of unemployment not seen since the Great Depression.<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Prediction: A 30% Unemployment Rate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In recent interviews, including a notable appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos and a sit-down with The Wall Street Journal<\/em> in April 2026, Schulman projected that U.S. unemployment could reach 20% to 30%<\/strong> within the next two to five years.<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To put that in perspective, the unemployment rate during the Great Depression peaked at roughly 25%. Schulman\u2019s thesis rests on three core pillars:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. The Speed of Replacement vs. Reskilling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Schulman argues that the primary danger isn’t just that AI can<\/em> do these jobs, but that it will learn to do them faster than humans can learn new ones.<\/sup> He famously asked, “To what will you reskill?” when discussing sectors like customer service, basic programming, and legal work\u2014all of which he believes could be cut by 50% or more.<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. The Rise of Humanoid Robotics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unlike the initial wave of AI, which primarily threatened “white-collar” knowledge work, Schulman warns that the rapid advancement of humanoid robots is now putting “blue-collar” manual labor at risk.<\/sup> This creates a “pincer movement” where both physical and cognitive labor are being automated simultaneously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. The End of the “Network” Moat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For Verizon specifically, Schulman has been candid that the company can no longer survive simply by having the “best network.”<\/sup> As AI levels the playing field for connectivity and service, he believes telecom companies must lean into AI-driven efficiency just to stay competitive, even if that means a significantly smaller workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Radical Honesty” as a Leadership Strategy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Schulman\u2019s stance is a departure from the “don’t-panic-the-shareholders” approach of his predecessors. He advocates for what he calls radical honesty.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n