Across Philadelphia’s offices, studios and shared workspaces, workers are already wrestling with the strange realities of an AI-powered workday. Creatives, office staff and early-career hires say the same tools that speed up editing, drafting and research are cutting down hours and raising uncomfortable questions about who gets hired, promoted or replaced next. As companies retool around automation, local workers and training programs are scrambling to keep pace.
National news has only turned up the volume on those worries. On Jan. 28, Amazon said it would eliminate roughly 16,000 corporate jobs, tying the cuts in part to efficiency gains from generative AI, as reported by The Associated Press. At the global level, the International Monetary Fund estimates that nearly 40% of global employment is exposed to AI and that about 60% of jobs in advanced economies could be affected. Those headline cuts and sweeping studies are pushing employers, policymakers and workers into a fast-moving conversation about what to protect and how to adapt.
What local experts are saying
At the University of Pennsylvania, Professor Chris Callison-Burch told 6abc that the question of whether AI will take jobs “the answer is both yes and no,” acknowledging both the risk of layoffs and the potential for new roles. He has also carried that message to lawmakers: Callison-Burch testified on Capitol Hill in 2023 about the implications of generative AI, according to his prepared remarks on Congress.gov. Local researchers and professors are generally pushing a two-track response that tries to manage displacement while investing in AI-savvy skills.
Why entry-level hires are vulnerable
Some of the clearest early disruption is landing on younger, entry-level workers. A recent Stanford Digital Economy Lab paper documents meaningful employment declines for early-career workers in the occupations that are most exposed to generative AI, calling those younger hires “canaries in the coal mine.” That pattern has a familiar ring in Philadelphia. Local photographer Jake Mejias told 6abc that tasks that once took him an hour now take minutes with AI, a productivity boost that still leaves him worried about being replaced over the long term.
Which jobs look safer - for now
Not every job is staring down the same level of risk. Analysts at organizations such as the OECD find that roles involving hands-on physical work or complex interpersonal judgment are significantly harder to automate with current AI tools. Many construction trades, front-line hospitality positions and caregiving jobs fall into that category. These occupations are still likely to see AI show up in workflows, but the immediate threat of full replacement is generally lower than in white-collar roles packed with codifiable, routine tasks.
How Philly is responding
Local workforce organizations are shifting strategy to meet the moment. A briefing from Philadelphia Works’ board flags rising demand for AI-related skills and stresses employer-driven training partnerships, while city and community programs have expanded apprenticeship and credential options to create alternate pathways into steady work. Hoodline coverage of local apprenticeship growth highlights programs such as the City College for Municipal Employment that aim to put residents on career ladders that are less vulnerable to automation.
New funding is starting to flow behind that work. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry has announced multi-million dollar industry partnerships and training investments to help regions like Philadelphia upskill incumbent workers and connect jobseekers to in-demand roles, according to the department. For workers in the region, the short-term playbook is familiar enough: learn to use AI tools instead of ignoring them, build skills that are difficult to codify and consider apprenticeships or credential programs that offer reliable entry points into stable careers.
