The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way we work, and the newest research shows that young workers are paying the highest price. A Stanford University study found that people between the ages of 22 and 25 are losing jobs at far higher rates than older workers. These young Americans are trying to start careers, but AI is replacing them before they even get a real chance.
The study focused on jobs that are most exposed to AI, like customer service and software development. In these fields, young workers have seen a 13 percent drop in employment. For young software developers, the number is even worse—down about 20 percent since 2022. Meanwhile, older workers in the same jobs are holding steady or even growing in numbers.
Why is this happening? The answer lies in something the researchers call “tacit knowledge.” That means the kind of know-how people gain from experience. It’s not something you can read in a book or learn from a manual. AI can copy facts and patterns, but it can’t replace human judgment, wisdom, or common sense. That’s why older workers, who have more of this kind of knowledge, are harder to replace.
This shift should concern every American who believes in the dignity of work. Our Founding Fathers understood that a free and independent people must be able to earn a living. A nation that depends on machines instead of men is a nation that forgets its roots. When new technology comes along, it should serve the people—not the other way around.
Even Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, admits that some jobs are “totally gone” because of AI. He talked openly about customer service roles being replaced by AI bots. He also warned that a coming wave of robotics could change life even more in the next three to seven years. Yet even Altman says he wouldn’t trust AI with his medical treatment unless a human doctor was involved. That tells us something important: there are still jobs that only people can do.
But while some experts say the job losses caused by AI are only short-term, we must remain cautious. History shows us that when big changes happen quickly, regular people are often left behind. In July alone, over 62,000 jobs were cut in the United States—29 percent more than in June. More than 10,000 of those cuts were blamed on AI.
We are told that new jobs will come from AI, just like they have from past technology. That may be true. But it’s not enough to hope that the future will work itself out. We must make sure it does. That means protecting jobs for young Americans who are just beginning their careers. It means investing in skills that AI can’t copy—like leadership, problem-solving, and hands-on experience.
It also means keeping our government in check. The Constitution does not give Washington the power to pick winners and losers in the job market. That power belongs to the people and the states. If we let unelected tech leaders or federal agencies decide how AI is used, we risk losing control of our own economy and way of life.
America must remain a land where hard work matters, where experience counts, and where the next generation has a chance to succeed. Let us not trade away our future for the promise of faster machines. Let us build a future where technology serves freedom, not replaces it. That’s the American way—and it still works.
