📝 TL;DR A group of major investors is openly predicting that AI will start replacing real chunks of human labor in 2026, not just making people a bit more productive. Budgets are set to shift from salaries to software, and workers who ignore this will feel it first. 🧠 Overview New comments from multiple enterprise investors suggest that 2026 is the point where AI stops being a pilot experiment and starts meaningfully changing headcount. A recent study from a leading tech university estimates that more than one in ten jobs could already be automated by current AI systems, and employers are already cutting some entry level roles because of it. The big unknown is how this plays out on the ground, mass layoffs, higher productivity, or a messy mix of both. What is clear is that leadership teams are now planning their 2026 budgets with AI and labor in the same conversation. 📜 The Announcement In a new year outlook, several enterprise focused investors were asked about AI adoption, and many of them, without being prompted, jumped straight to how AI will affect workers. They expect companies to increase AI spending in 2026 while reducing what they spend on certain types of labor. Some predict that AI will move beyond helping employees type faster or summarize documents and will start fully automating specific workflows. Others warn that even when AI is not the real reason for cuts, executives will still use it as the public explanation for layoffs and budget reductions. ⚙️ How It Works • Automation potential is already here - A recent study estimates that roughly 11 to 12 percent of existing jobs could be automated with today’s AI, especially roles heavy on repetitive digital work. • Early signs in hiring - Surveys show some employers are quietly removing entry level positions and junior roles, explaining that AI tools can now handle parts of that work. • Budgets are shifting, not just growing - Investors expect 2026 enterprise budgets to move money out of headcount and into AI platforms, tools, and agents that can run processes end to end.

Everyone expected the next big leap in AI to be smarter chat models… instead it was image editing Nano Banana blew up because it solved the one thing every creator struggled with: clean, controlled edits without breaking the image It can: - swap objects without distortion - fix colours without ruining lighting - keep faces consistent - edit clothes, backgrounds and details perfectly No re-generating. No losing the original. No weird hands It made visual creation accessible, even for people with zero design skills—so naturally millions adopted it in weeks. In your opinion… is Nano Banana just the start, or will editing become the main use of AI for most people?

Motivation won’t save your 2026. Systems will. Small actions done daily compound faster than big promises made once. 👇 What’s the one habit you’re locking in this year?

Just checking as I’ve been invited to DM a couple of colleagues on here - the question is do we have to reach ‘Level 9’ (of comment activity) to be able to DM? And likewise does the other person have to be at level 9 to respond? Many thanks Derek R