37% of Companies Will Replace Jobs with AI Before End of 2026: How to Prepare
The number is shocking but real: according to an HR Dive survey, 37% of companies expect to have replaced jobs with AI before the end of 2026. And 3 out of 10 companies say they have already done so.
Which Jobs Are Being Targeted?
Companies are starting with the roles easiest to automate:
- Customer service — chatbots and AI agents
- Data entry — full automation
- Administrative tasks — scheduling, reports, coordination
- Routine analysis — periodic reports and dashboards
A Practical Preparation Plan
1. Assess Your Position
Write down all your daily tasks. Categorize them: "can be automated" or "hard to automate." Focus on developing yourself in the second category.
2. Become the Person Who Uses AI
Instead of being the person replaced by AI — become the person who replaces tasks using AI. Companies don't want to get rid of people — they want people who produce more.
3. Document Your Expertise
The knowledge inside your head — that doesn't exist anywhere else — is your advantage. Document it and build on it.
4. Build a Plan B
You don't have to quit your job — but you need a backup plan. A side project, a new skill, a professional network.
Conclusion
37% is a big number. But the right preparation puts you in the 63% who won't be affected — or even in the 37% but on the side that uses AI, not the side impacted by it.