NEW DELHI, February 2026 — The era of the traditional office worker is facing an existential deadline. Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI, has issued a stark warning: anyone whose job involves sitting at a computer is now “at risk” as Artificial Intelligence prepares to overhaul the professional job market within the next 12 to 18 months.

Beyond Automation: The Rise of Professional AGI

For years, the narrative surrounding AI focused on blue-collar automation or basic data entry. However, Microsoft is now pivoting toward “professional-grade AGI” (Artificial General Intelligence). Unlike standard chatbots, this system is designed to replicate the complex decision-making and creative output of a human professional.

In a recent reveal, Suleyman described the technology as an AI model capable of doing almost everything a human expert can do. This isn’t just about faster typing; it’s about autonomous systems handling the “routine” intellectual tasks that currently define the 9-to-5 workday for millions.

Lawyers, Accountants, and Coders: No One is Safe

The “danger zone” has expanded. While software engineers and coders were the first to feel the heat, the crosshairs are now firmly on prestigious white-collar sectors:

• Legal & Finance: AI is moving from simple document review to active drafting and accounting analysis, potentially making human oversight a luxury rather than a necessity.
• Marketing & Management: Strategic roles—once thought to require “the human touch”—are being mapped by AGI models that can analyze market trends and execute campaigns faster than any human manager.

The Corporate Shift: AI as a Cost-Cutting Tool

This isn’t a theoretical threat; the “AI-first” restructuring has already begun. Global corporations are increasingly viewing human staff as a legacy cost.

• Salesforce: Recently made headlines by allegedly laying off up to 1,000 employees as part of a pivot toward AI-integrated roles.
• Big Tech Exodus: Similar patterns of “AI-driven restructuring” are emerging at Amazon, Meta, FedEx, and Ericsson, where traditional positions are being phased out in favor of automated systems.

A 12 to 18-Month Countdown

The timeline provided by Suleyman is aggressive. By mid-2027, the professional landscape may be unrecognizable. Microsoft’s strategy is clear: provide enterprise customers with tools that allow them to “handle tasks” without the overhead of a massive human workforce.

Bottom Line

The warning from the top of Microsoft AI suggests that “computer work” is no longer a safe haven. As AGI moves from the lab to the office, the definition of a “professional” is being rewritten. For the global workforce, the message is blunt: the tools you use to do your job today may be the tools that replace you tomorrow.