Blackstone President Jon Gray has made a bold prediction that will send ripples through the business world: artificial intelligence will transform approximately 25% of jobs by 2025. In a recent presentation to the investment giant’s portfolio companies, Gray emphasized that AI’s impact will be swift and substantial, with the technology poised to reshape entire industries in the coming year. This timeline represents one of the most aggressive forecasts from a major business leader, signaling that the AI revolution may arrive sooner than many have anticipated.
Gray’s presentation highlighted that while AI will eliminate certain roles, it will simultaneously create new opportunities and enhance productivity across sectors. The Blackstone executive specifically pointed to customer service, sales, and marketing as areas where AI integration is already showing significant results. With Blackstone’s massive portfolio spanning real estate, private equity, and credit markets valued at approximately $1 trillion, Gray’s insights carry substantial weight. His prediction aligns with broader industry research, including Goldman Sachs’ estimate that AI could affect 300 million jobs globally.
For workers and businesses alike, Gray’s timeline creates a sense of urgency around AI adaptation. Rather than viewing AI as a distant future concern, his forecast suggests that companies and employees need to develop AI strategies immediately. Blackstone itself is leading by example, having already implemented AI tools that have reportedly saved thousands of work hours across its operations. As one of the world’s largest alternative asset managers makes such a definitive statement about AI’s imminent impact, both the business community and workforce must consider how quickly they need to evolve their skills and operations to remain competitive in an increasingly AI-augmented economy.