Sometimes, a new startup from Silicon Valley sounds so extreme that people wonder if it’s a joke. That’s how many feel about a new company called Mechanize, started by well-known AI researcher Tamay Besiroglu.
Mechanize was announced on X (formerly Twitter), and its goal is shocking: “to fully automate all work” and “automate the entire economy.” In simple terms, the company wants to use AI to do every job that humans currently do.
Many people online are criticizing the idea. Some are also worried that this startup could harm the reputation of Epoch, a respected AI research group also founded by Besiroglu. One of Epoch’s own directors even joked about having a “communications crisis” on his birthday because of the backlash.
Besiroglu shared that Mechanize’s focus will first be on white-collar jobs (like office and computer work), not manual labor, which would need robots. He also explained that human workers in the U.S. are paid around $18 trillion every year—and globally, over $60 trillion. This shows how big the opportunity is if AI replaces all workers.
Some respected people in tech, like Nat Friedman, Patrick Collison, and Jeff Dean, have supported Mechanize with investments. But many others are upset. One critic said that while automating work could help companies, it would be “a huge loss for most humans.”
Another concern is that Epoch, which is supposed to study AI in a neutral way, might have used its research to support the creation of Mechanize. Some people feel that this crosses a line between research and profit.
Besiroglu says that even if AI takes over jobs, it could still benefit humans by creating huge economic growth. He believes it will lead to better living standards and new products and services. But critics point out a big issue: If people don’t have jobs, how will they afford to buy anything?
Besiroglu answers this by saying that even if wages go down, people could earn money in other ways—like investments, rent, or government help.
While his ideas seem extreme, the technical problems he wants to solve are real. Right now, AI agents are not very good at doing tasks on their own. They forget things, don’t follow instructions well, and can’t plan long-term. Mechanize wants to fix these issues and is hiring people to help.
In the end, this startup shows both the promise and risk of AI. If done right, AI could boost productivity and create wealth. But if not handled carefully, it could also leave many people without jobs.
Source: techcrunch
