Anupam Mittal, the visionary founder of Shaadi.com and a prominent judge on 'Shark Tank' India, has delivered a stark reality check about artificial intelligence that has ignited widespread discussion across professional circles. In a candid and thought-provoking post on LinkedIn, Mittal issued a blunt warning about how AI is fundamentally reshaping the job market, prompting a flurry of reactions from users who either applauded his insights or pushed back with counterarguments.
The Viral LinkedIn Post That Sparked a Debate
Mittal's viral LinkedIn post did not mince words, cutting straight to the core of a pressing concern: as AI continues to evolve and integrate into workplaces, what does this mean for employment and career trajectories in the coming years? He emphasized that AI is not primarily targeting coders or technical experts, as many might assume, but rather middle managers. According to Mittal, jobs centered around coordination, bureaucratic processes, and administrative oversight are now the most vulnerable.
"If you are a 'manager', here's the bitter truth. AI isn't coming for the coders first. It's coming for middle management," he wrote, a statement that quickly captured the attention of thousands. He elaborated that traditional leadership skills, such as knowing who to contact or how to navigate organizational hurdles, are becoming less valuable because AI can perform these tasks more efficiently and rapidly.
The End of the Knowledge Premium
Mittal didn't stop at identifying the at-risk roles. He argued that climbing the corporate ladder merely for the sake of authority is rapidly losing its significance. "You got paid for knowing who to call and how to get things done. That knowledge premium is now zero," he asserted, highlighting how AI's capabilities are diminishing the premium once placed on such procedural knowledge.
To illustrate his point, Mittal cited examples from companies he has invested in, noting that some are generating revenues in the hundreds of crores with remarkably small teams, largely due to the deployment of AI agents. He introduced the concept of the "Individual Contributor Plus" (IC Plus) professional—individuals who can build, code, create, or sell while leveraging AI as a powerful tool. According to Mittal, these are the professionals best positioned for the future.
AI's Growing Prowess in Complex Workflows
Mittal was blunt in his assessment: "The 'VP of Operations' who doesn't actually operate anything is an endangered species." He explained that AI is increasingly adept at managing messy, unpredictable workflows and unstructured data—areas where managers were once considered indispensable. "If your job is mostly coordination, with no measurable output, you're overhead. And in a high-interest-rate world, overhead gets cut," he warned, advising professionals to focus on acquiring tangible skills rather than chasing prestigious job titles.
How the Internet Reacted to Mittal's Warning
Mittal's post garnered a massive response, with many users agreeing that AI is indeed transforming corporate structures and challenging traditional office hierarchies. One user encapsulated the sentiment, stating, "This is uncomfortable, but mostly true. AI isn't replacing leadership. It's replacing layers. The managers who survive will be the ones who can still do the work, not just talk about it. Decision making, judgment, context, people development—those still matter. But pure coordination as a role? That's fading fast. The 'IC plus' idea nails it. The future isn't title heavy, it's capability heavy. If you can think, execute, and use AI as leverage, you're dangerous in the best way. If you only move work around, the math just doesn't work anymore."
However, not everyone was convinced. Some critics argued that while AI can automate certain functions, it cannot replicate essential human skills such as leadership, emotional intelligence, and nuanced judgment. For instance, one user shared their experience, noting that over the years, the most effective results have come from collaboration and team-building—areas where human interaction remains irreplaceable. This perspective underscores the ongoing debate about the balance between AI automation and the enduring value of human-centric skills in the workplace.
