Tamay Besiroglu’s ‘Mechanize’ aims for full automation of work, triggering heated reactions on social media.
In a move that has sparked intense debate across social media platforms, renowned US artificial intelligence researcher Tamay Besiroglu has launched a startup called Mechanize, with the ambitious—and controversial—mission to replace all working humans with AI-powered bots.
The announcement, made on Thursday, April 17 via X (formerly Twitter), has already ignited widespread backlash. Besiroglu described the startup’s objective as nothing less than “the full automation of all work” and ultimately “the full automation of the economy.”
Market Potential: $60 Trillion Global Opportunity
According to Besiroglu, the potential market for such sweeping automation is enormous. In a post on X, he calculated the market size based on global wage figures.
“The market potential here is absurdly large,” he wrote. “Workers in the U.S. are paid around $18 trillion per year in aggregate. For the entire world, the number is over $60 trillion per year.”
While the concept may seem futuristic—or even dystopian to some—Mechanize intends to start by targeting white-collar professions rather than manual labor. In a statement to TechCrunch, Besiroglu clarified that initial automation efforts would focus on administrative, managerial, and analytical roles.
Social Media Backlash: “A Giant Prize for Companies, a Huge Loss for Humans”
The response online has been swift and scathing. Many users expressed concern about the social consequences of replacing human workers with artificial intelligence.
One user wrote:
“The automation of most human labor is indeed a giant prize for companies, which is why many of the biggest companies on Earth are already pursuing it. I think it will be a huge loss for most humans.”
Critics argue that removing humans from the workforce could lead to economic instability, loss of purpose, and widening inequality—despite the potential benefits touted by AI proponents.
Besiroglu Defends the Vision: “Explosive Economic Growth” Awaits
In the face of criticism, Besiroglu defends his vision as one of economic empowerment, not displacement.
He told TechCrunch:
“Completely automating labor could generate vast abundance, much higher standards of living, and new goods and services that we can’t even imagine today.”
He believes AI could act as a force multiplier, unlocking unprecedented growth and prosperity. According to Besiroglu, the world would transition to a post-labor economy, where people could benefit from the fruits of automation rather than suffer its consequences.
But Who Will Buy the Products in an AI-Run Economy?
A fundamental question remains unanswered: If AI replaces all human jobs, who will be left with the income to purchase the products and services it produces?
To this, Besiroglu offers a paradoxical answer. He claims that wages might actually increase, not vanish, in an AI-driven world.
“Workers would be more valuable in complementary roles that AI cannot perform,” he stated, adding that AI agents “can’t execute long-term plans without going off the rails,” and still lack the reliability and nuanced thinking of humans.
The Future of Work: Innovation or Inevitable Disruption?
As AI continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, startups like Mechanize force society to confront difficult questions about the future of work, ethics in automation, and the long-term role of humans in the economy.
While some see it as a bold step toward technological utopia, others warn of an impending crisis in human employment and social stability.
One thing is certain: the conversation around AI and automation is far from over—and Mechanize has just added more fuel to the fire.
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