NYU marketing professor and entrepreneur Scott Galloway delivered a blistering critique of the artificial intelligence industry in a recent podcast interview, arguing that the technology is being developed primarily to benefit the wealthy and powerful—not ordinary workers.
In a conversation on The Diary Of A CEO, Galloway accused AI CEOs of exaggerating the capabilities of their systems to attract billions in investment, while simultaneously stoking fears of mass unemployment. “AI wasn’t built for you,” he said bluntly. “The rich don’t need you anymore.”
Galloway, who hosts The Prof G Pod, noted that the narrative of AI-driven “freedom” masks a more uncomfortable truth: the technology is designed to concentrate wealth and power among those who control it. He warned that the combination of AI with robotics could accelerate job displacement across multiple sectors, from manufacturing to white-collar professions.
During the interview, Galloway was asked which jobs would be first to disappear. He pointed to roles in data processing, customer service, and even aspects of legal and accounting work. However, he also questioned whether the pace of AI development is sustainable or simply a hype cycle fueled by investor dollars.
Galloway reserved particular skepticism for Elon Musk, whom he described as more of a visionary salesman than a realist. While acknowledging Musk’s achievements, Galloway argued that his claims about AI—and its societal impact—should be taken with a grain of salt.
Despite his criticisms, Galloway did not dismiss AI’s potential entirely. He suggested that if skeptics are proven wrong, it will be because the technology genuinely improves productivity and living standards without exacerbating inequality. Until then, he advises workers to adapt and upskill—but also to remain deeply skeptical of billionaires promising salvation through algorithms.