Why One Man Thinks Artificial Intelligence Will Displace 40 Percent of Jobs

Kai Fu Lee, an artificial intelligence (AI) expert, venture capitalist, and former executive of such companies as Apple, Microsoft, and Google, tells Scott Pelley of "60 Minutes" in an interview airing Sunday night on CBS News that he believes AI will displace 40 percent of the jobs out there -- jobs not exclusive to blue-collar work -- across the globe in as little as 15 years. The native of Taipei, Taiwan, and the Columbia University and Carnegie Melon graduate goes into detail about his claims in his "60 Minutes" interview airing Sunday at 7 p.m. ET. "AI will increasingly replace repetitive jobs, not just for blue-collar work, but a lot of white-collar work," Lee tells Pelley on the program, as CBS News reported in advance. "Chauffeurs, truck drivers, anyone who does driving for a living -- their jobs will be disrupted more in the 15 to 20-year time frame. Many jobs that seem a little bit complex, chef, waiter, a lot of things will become automated … stores … restaurants, and altogether in 15 years, that's going to displace about 40 percent of the jobs in the world." Lee is CEO of Sinovation Ventures and is considered one of the "world's foremost experts" on artificial intelligence. Pelley pushed back on the claim of 40 percent -- and Lee said the jobs will be "displaceable."