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This boss is happy in using AI to replace workers

Ñ EMBARGO: NO ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION, WEB POSTING OR STREET SALES BEFORE 3:01 A.M. ET ON SUNDAY, FEB. 2, 2025. NO EXCEPTIONS FOR ANY REASONS Ñ A still limage from an artificial intelligence-generated video of Sebastian Siemiatkowski, the chief executive of Klarna, announcing the companyÕs earnings last year. Over the past year, Klarna and Siemiatkowski have repeatedly talked up the amount of work they have automated using generative AI, which serves up text, images and videos that look like they were created by people. (Klarna via The New York Times) Ñ ADVISORY MUST REMAIN IN THE UPPER LEFT CORNER TO SIGNIFY THIS IMAGE WAS GENERATED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Ñ IMAGE MUST NOT BE CROPPED Ñ NO SALES; FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY WITH NYT STORY SLUGGED AI WORKER REPLACEMENT BY NOAM SCHEIBER FOR FEB. 2, 2025. ALL OTHER USE PROHIBITED. Ñ

Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski said AI had allowed his company to largely stop hiring entirely as at September 2023.

PHOTO: KLARNA VIA NYTIMES

Noam Scheiber

Ask typical corporate executives about their goals in adopting artificial intelligence, and they will most likely make vague pronouncements about how the technology will help employees enjoy more satisfying careers, or create as many opportunities as it eliminates. AI will help tackle the kind of tasks most people find repetitive, which frees up employees to take on higher-value work.

And then there is Mr Sebastian Siemiatkowski, CEO of Klarna, a Swedish tech firm that helps consumers defer payment on purchases and that has filed paperwork to go public in the United States with an expected valuation north of US$15 billion (S$20.3 billion).

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