HBR Davos Debate: Is AI Taking Jobs or Transforming Them?

Summary

Harvard Business Review published a Davos-timed executive agenda piece on January 22, 2026, framing the central workforce question at the World Economic Forum as a binary debate: whether AI is eliminating jobs or transforming them. The piece features opposing perspectives — Schulman warned that widespread layoffs are inevitable as AI rapidly automates both entry-level and professional roles, while Smith argued that AI can serve as a tool to help employees continuously upskill and stay competitiv