A new AI startup called Mechanize has stirred controversy in the global tech community after announcing its goal to automate all types of work, yes, all. The founder, Tamay Besiroglu, made the announcement on X (formerly Twitter), describing Mechanize as a company working toward “the full automation of the economy.”
This bold vision hasn’t gone unnoticed, and not entirely for the right reasons.
A Startup Aiming to Replace Human Labor
Besiroglu, a respected AI researcher and the founder of the non-profit Epoch (known for analyzing the economic impact of AI), is now under fire from many in the AI research world. Critics argue that Mechanize’s goal threatens human employment on a massive scale.
The startup wants to provide the data, tools, and environments necessary to build AI agents that can replace humans in any job. Besiroglu even estimated the total market value by adding up global annual wages — around $60 trillion — calling it a “massive opportunity.”
For now, the focus is on white-collar jobs, not manual labor. Mechanize aims to automate roles like customer service, finance, writing, and programming first.
Backlash from the Tech Community
While the idea may appeal to some investors, many in the AI community are raising ethical concerns.
A director at Epoch, the research group Besiroglu also founded, commented ironically, “Yay, just what I wanted for my birthday: a comms crisis.” Another user on X called the startup’s goal “a huge loss for most humans.”
The backlash has grown partly because Epoch was thought to be a neutral AI research group — and now critics claim that it may have indirectly supported the development of AI tools aimed at replacing humans.
Big Names Back the Startup
Despite the criticism, Mechanize has already attracted major investors including:
- Nat Friedman (former GitHub CEO)
- Patrick Collison (Stripe CEO)
- Jeff Dean (Google AI Chief)
- Marcus Abramovitch (AltX crypto fund)
Abramovitch praised the team, saying they have “thought deeper on AI than anyone I know.”
Will This Help or Hurt Humanity?
Besiroglu insists that his mission is not to harm human livelihoods, but to create abundance. He argues that AI agents doing all the work will free humans from labor and lead to higher living standards.
However, critics point out a clear contradiction: if AI takes all the jobs, how will people earn money to buy goods and services?
Besiroglu responds by saying that in a fully automated economy, people could rely more on investments, rents, dividends, or government welfare. He also believes that human skills will still be valuable in roles where AI cannot compete.
The Technical Problem is Real
While the vision sounds extreme, the technical problem Mechanize is tackling is real. AI agents today are still far from perfect. They’re often unreliable, forgetful, and struggle with long-term tasks.
Mechanize aims to build the foundational tools needed to fix these issues and scale automation. The company joins a growing list of players including Microsoft, OpenAI, and Salesforce, all working on agent-based platforms.
Why This Matters for India
India, with its vast white-collar workforce — especially in tech and services — could be directly affected by the kind of automation Mechanize is working toward. While AI has the potential to increase productivity and boost innovation, it also raises serious questions about job displacement, reskilling, and income security.
As global AI development accelerates, the conversation is no longer just about technology — it’s about people, purpose, and policy.
