Ford CEO says AI will reshape jobs differently across workplaces

Ford CEO Jim Farley said AI is likely to assist many skilled-trades workers while changing or eliminating some office-based jobs. In his view, the technology could help factories and repair bays address shortages of technical workers even as it disrupts routine work performed on screens.

At a Ford Pro Accelerate media roundtable, Farley said jobs in finance centered on spreadsheets, call centers and entry-level programming were among the roles that would be changed or eliminated during the early phase of AI adoption, according to Fortune. That is Farley’s assessment, rather than an independently verified forecast of job losses.

What did Ford’s CEO say about AI and jobs?

Farley said many skilled-trades jobs would use AI and be relatively protected from it. He described AI as a companion for workers in factories, repair facilities and other trades: a tool that can help them take on more complicated work, gain experience faster and help employers cope with a lack of technical labor.

That does not mean he expects physical occupations to avoid change. Business Insider reported that Farley said disruption to blue-collar work would bring both benefits and drawbacks, depending on how employers handle the transition.

Farley’s contrast is between the types of work involved, not a guarantee for any occupation. He said practical work that requires diagnosing faults, exercising judgment and working safely around complex equipment is less readily replaced than standardized, screen-based knowledge tasks, Fortune reported.

How Ford says AI is changing skilled work

Farley said Ford employs more than 10,000 skilled-trades workers, about 20% of its 56,000 UAW workers. Their work is moving beyond maintenance of conveyors and other mechanical equipment toward robot repair, fiber work, automated systems and digital manufacturing operations, according to Fortune.

He said newer plants have made the boundary between engineering and skilled trades less distinct. The work can include maintaining robotic casting equipment, setting up digital manufacturing processes and troubleshooting machinery used in battery production.

Ford is also using AI and augmented reality in vehicle service, Farley said. He cited a Ford Super Duty engine-removal job that can require two days of work and extensive disassembly; Ford Pro is using AI to help dealers complete that repair more quickly when they have not done it before, Fortune reported.

Business Insider separately reported that Farley called augmented-reality AI useful for Super Duty repairs and said Ford needs technology that makes repairs easier for workers. He also said AI products pitched to Ford have largely focused on office efficiency, with fewer aimed at helping vehicle repair or factory work.

Farley has made broader white-collar predictions

Farley’s latest distinction follows a more sweeping prediction he made at the Aspen Ideas Festival in June 2025. The Wall Street Journal reported that he said AI would replace “literally half” of U.S. white-collar workers and leave many behind.

The material available does not include independent labor-market research that validates either that estimate or Farley’s predictions for the specific jobs he named. His comments describe how he expects the technology to affect Ford-related trades and office work, not a confirmed employment outcome.

This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.