The CEOs building AI freely admit it will eliminate most jobs — yet no government on earth has a single plan to deal with the unemployment wave coming in the next five years.
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The CEOs building AI freely admit it will eliminate most jobs — yet no government on earth has a single plan to deal with the unemployment wave coming in the next five years.
TL;DR
Kevin O'Leary and Cenk Uygur square off on the biggest issues of 2026: whether AI will create a golden age or an unemployment catastrophe, who is really driving America's war with Iran, how Israeli lobby money controls US foreign policy, and who can win the 2028 presidential race. O'Leary sees opportunity; Uygur sees an iceberg. The single most useful takeaway: no government on earth has a credible plan for the mass unemployment wave that even AI CEOs admit is coming.
Kevin O'Leary and Cenk Uygur debate AI's economic impact, mass unemployment risks, US-Iran war dynamics, Israeli lobby influence, and the 2028 US presidential election landscape.
Chapter 2 · 02:17
A graph cited by Steven Bartlett shows seven out of ten Americans oppose local construction of AI data centers, reflecting broad public anxiety about energy costs and job displacement.
A graph cited by Steven Bartlett shows seven out of ten Americans oppose local construction of AI data centers, reflecting broad public anxiety about energy costs and job displacement.
Chapter 3 · 07:06
Kevin O'Leary says China is secretly funding opposition to every new power plant in America.
Wherever a new power plant or data center is proposed in America, there is organised opposition. O'Leary hired forensic auditors and data scientists, traced the money through IRS filings, and found it leads back to China through a network of nonprofits called Arabella. He says it is happening in every state, every city, and he has handed 90 pages of evidence to the White House and FBI.
Every company is racing to fire 10–25% of its workforce using AI because the first one to do so gets a stock market reward. If they all do it, the result is not a recession but a depression. There is no government plan anywhere on earth for this outcome — and even the AI CEOs building these tools have already admitted it is inevitable.
Cenk Uygur argues that every business is racing to cut 10–25% of employees via AI because whoever fires first gains a competitive advantage and stock market reward.
While US entrepreneurs were stymied by regulation and alleged Chinese-funded opposition campaigns, China built 400 gigawatts of new coal-powered electricity in just 19 months. No environmental reviews. No community opposition. Just a supreme leader pointing at the ground and saying build. That is the adversary the US is racing against.
Chapter 4 · 15:12
The AI founders say it behind closed doors — and sometimes in public. Are we listening?
Kevin O'Leary claimed that in the last 19 months China built 400 gigawatts of new power capacity from coal while US data center construction was stymied by regulation.
The CEOs of OpenAI, Anthropic, and Tesla have all said publicly that AI will eliminate most current jobs and push unemployment toward 20%. These are the people with the least incentive to say their products will cause harm — and they are saying it anyway. The public is being sugar-coated.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated in March 2021 that AI will probably replace most of the jobs people do today and that entire job categories will be totally gone.
Anthropic founder Dario Amodei predicted AI could eliminate half of all entry-level white-collar jobs within five years, potentially pushing unemployment to 20%.
Kevin O'Leary cited Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warning that if the US doesn't build more compute capacity within six months, China's DeepSeek will overtake US AI capabilities.
A coder earning $120,000 a year who loses their job to AI would receive just $36,000 annually under a $3,000/month UBI — and even that assumes UBI gets passed instantly, which it won't. The transition from good middle-class salary to poverty-level income replacement is not a safety net; it is a catastrophe.
Cenk Uygur illustrates the UBI shortfall: a coder earning $120,000 would receive only $36,000 per year under a $3,000/month UBI scheme — a devastating income collapse.
Cenk Uygur contends that 10% unemployment from AI would be worse than any economic crisis anyone alive has experienced, let alone the 25% scenario.
Chapter 5 · 23:37
Since we have legalized bribery in this country, there's no way they're going to serve the voters. Whichever AI companies are giving them more money, they're going to serve them.
Chapter 6 · 31:53
France taxed the rich at 90%. Monaco was the result. Kevin O'Leary says America is next.
Kevin O'Leary claimed that 52% of every dollar of global sovereign wealth fund investment goes to the United States, arguing this proves capitalism and American entrepreneurship still leads the world.
When France taxed the rich at 90%, Monaco was born — four miles across the border. When California and New York pile on taxes, the wealthy move to Texas and Florida. Socialism always runs out of other people's money because the people with the money simply leave. That is the lesson history keeps teaching and progressives keep ignoring.
Chapter 7 · 37:17
The new AI jobs are real. But the 20-year gap to get there will break millions of people.
Steven Bartlett cited a Figure AI livestream showing a humanoid robot sorting parcels on a factory floor for four consecutive days, performing better and faster than humans.
Even if AI eventually creates wonderful new jobs — on Mars, in space, in robotics — it will take a minimum of 20 years to get there. The 61-year-old assembly line worker in Cleveland cannot retrain to be a Mars engineer. The transition gap is real, enormous, and completely unplanned for by any government or company.
Driving is the biggest single employer in the world. Uber's CEO confirmed to Steven Bartlett that Uber will automate all 9.4 million driver jobs with autonomous vehicles. When asked what those drivers will do, the CEO said: 'I don't know.' Tech executives talk openly about mass disruption behind closed doors — they just don't say it publicly.
Steven Bartlett said Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi confirmed Uber will automate its 9.4 million driver jobs with autonomous vehicles and admitted he does not know what those drivers will do.
Chapter 9 · 48:22
The Adelsons gave Trump $317M. Then he started a war Israel wanted.
Cenk Uygur cited polling showing 68% of the country believes the US is heading in the wrong direction, and 76% are dissatisfied with the economy.
The Adelson family alone gave Trump over $317 million. The Israeli lobby donates to 94% of Congress. Netanyahu walked into the Situation Room and told Trump to attack. Every time a peace deal gets close, Netanyahu calls Trump and it collapses. This is 100% Israeli interest, 0% American interest.
Cenk Uygur stated the Adelson family alone has given Donald Trump over $317 million in campaign contributions, which he characterises as legalised bribery of US foreign policy.
Cenk Uygur stated the US has given $320 billion to Israel over the lifetime of the relationship, on top of $8 trillion spent on the post-9/11 global war on terror.
Cenk Uygur claimed the Israeli lobby donates to 94% of Congress members, including being the number-one lifetime donor to Trump, Biden, Schumer, Jeffries, and Mike Johnson.
Blocking the Strait of Hormuz costs Iran approximately $210 million a day in lost revenue. But it costs the rest of the world enormously more. China gets 48% of its energy through that strait. South Korea and India are already in crisis. The war has created an energy shock far larger in Asia and Europe than in energy-independent America.
Kevin O'Leary stated that China sources 48% of its energy through the Strait of Hormuz, giving Beijing enormous incentive to pressure Iran into a deal.
Netanyahu has been saying Iran is weeks away from a nuclear weapon since the 1990s. Iran has never enriched uranium above 60%, far short of the 90% needed for a weapon. Iran has no missile that can reach America. The grand Ayatollah issued a fatwa prohibiting nuclear weapons. The threat is a fabrication used to justify endless war.
Kevin O'Leary estimated that by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, Iran is losing approximately $210 million USD per day — making its position financially unsustainable.
Cenk Uygur claimed the IDF's civilian kill ratio in its recent conflicts is 83%, which he says is higher than Hamas, Hezbollah, or any other designated terrorist group.
Chapter 10 · 1:11:41
$35K drone vs $3M missile. America is losing on unit economics of war.
Iran launched carbon-fiber drones with lawnmower engines costing $35,000. America shot them down with ordnance costing $1.2–3 million per missile. This is the first tech war ever fought — and whoever has the best AI wins. The US is currently on the wrong side of that cost equation.
Chapter 11 · 1:15:29
The thing that I think America's at risk of running out of, Kevin, is patience and support.
Chapter 12 · 1:17:50
62% of young Americans now favour socialism. Is this ideology or just rage?
Cenk Uygur cited polling showing 80% of Democrats hold a negative view of Israel, and among under-50 Americans across all parties, Israel has a negative 45-point rating.
Positive views of capitalism in America have hit an all-time low. 62% of young Americans view socialism favourably. 80% of Democrats now view Israel negatively. This is not ideology — it is anger. The question is whether any politician can channel it before the pitchforks arrive.
Steven Bartlett cited polling showing 62% of young Americans hold a favorable view of socialism, while positive views of capitalism among all Americans have fallen to an all-time low.
Chapter 13 · 1:28:50
America doesn't have capitalism. It has socialism — for corporations.
America does not have free markets or capitalism. Every industry has captured the government through legal bribery. Drug companies, oil companies, defense contractors, banks — they all wrote their own rules. What you actually have is corporatism, and it is socialism for corporations. Real capitalism would be a step up from here.
Republican voter enthusiasm has been obliterated by the war and by AI unemployment. Democrats have lost their way. The only Republican who can win 2028 is Tucker Carlson — a populist with a massive social media base and no dependence on the donor class. Cenk predicted Trump would win in 2016 when everyone laughed. He's making the same call again.
Chapter 14 · 1:33:48
Populist win. The people chasing after the donors, whether it's Israel or big pharma or any of the other donors — nobody likes those people.
No indexed bits in this chapter.
Every company is racing to fire 10–25% of its workforce using AI because the first one to do so gets a stock market reward. If they all do it, the result is not a recession but a depression. There is no government plan anywhere on earth for this outcome — and even the AI CEOs building these tools have already admitted it is inevitable.
Driving is the biggest single employer in the world. Uber's CEO confirmed to Steven Bartlett that Uber will automate all 9.4 million driver jobs with autonomous vehicles. When asked what those drivers will do, the CEO said: 'I don't know.' Tech executives talk openly about mass disruption behind closed doors — they just don't say it publicly.
The Adelson family alone gave Trump over $317 million. The Israeli lobby donates to 94% of Congress. Netanyahu walked into the Situation Room and told Trump to attack. Every time a peace deal gets close, Netanyahu calls Trump and it collapses. This is 100% Israeli interest, 0% American interest.
This episode
Factual claims made this episode, and whether a source was named.
Seven in ten Americans oppose local construction of AI data centers.
The Arabella network, funded through Chinese sources via Neville Singham, ran a misinformation campaign against Kevin O'Leary's Utah data center project, traceable through IRS 990 filings and IP address analysis.
China built 400 gigawatts of coal-powered electricity capacity in the last 19 months to support its AI infrastructure expansion.
Sam Altman stated in March 2021 that AI will probably replace most jobs people do today and entire job categories will be totally gone.
Elon Musk predicted in May 2024 that AI and robots will provide all goods and services, leaving humans without jobs unless they choose to work as a hobby.
Dario Amodei predicted in 2025 that AI could eliminate half of all entry-level white-collar jobs within five years, potentially pushing unemployment to 20%.
Dario Amodei warned that if the US doesn't build more compute capacity within six months, China's DeepSeek will overtake US AI capabilities.
The Adelson family — Miriam and Sheldon Adelson — have given Donald Trump over $317 million in campaign contributions.
The Israeli lobby donates to 94% of US Congress members, and AIPAC is the number-one lifetime donor to Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Hakim Jeffries, Chuck Schumer, and Mike Johnson.
China receives 48% of its energy supply through the Strait of Hormuz.
Blocking the Strait of Hormuz costs Iran approximately $210 million USD per day in lost revenue.
Iran enriched uranium only to approximately 60%, far short of the 90% enrichment required for a nuclear weapon.
Iran does not possess a ballistic missile capable of delivering a warhead to the United States.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi confirmed that Uber plans to automate all 9.4 million of its driver jobs with autonomous vehicles and privately admitted he does not know what those workers will do.
The IDF's civilian kill ratio in recent conflicts is 83%, higher than any designated terrorist group including Hamas or Hezbollah.
Positive views of capitalism among all Americans have dropped to an all-time low, and nearly 70% of Democrats now view socialism positively.
62% of young Americans hold a favorable view of socialism.
68% of Americans believe the country is going in the wrong direction, and 76% are dissatisfied with how the economy is going.
The US has given a total of $320 billion in aid to Israel over the lifetime of the relationship and spent $8 trillion on the post-9/11 global war on terror.
Netanyahu lobbied for the US to attack Iran by coming into the White House Situation Room along with the head of Mossad via teleconference, as reported by the New York Times.
This episode
US President discussed in relation to rapidly falling approval ratings, the Iran war, Israeli lobby influence on his foreign policy decisions, and the upcoming midterms.
Israeli Prime Minister accused by Cenk of personally lobbying Trump to attack Iran and of sabotaging peace deals to pursue Greater Israel.
Quoted predicting AI will mean 'probably none of us will have a job' and forecasting two humanoid robots per human long-term.
Identified by Cenk Uygur as the only Republican candidate capable of winning the 2028 US presidential election; Kevin O'Leary came around to the idea after initially laughing.
Anthropic CEO quoted twice: once predicting mass AI unemployment and once warning that US must build compute or China catches up within 6 months.
US Congressman described by Cenk Uygur as the only politician working on a plan for AI-driven unemployment and the closest to the 'democratic capitalism' model Cenk advocates.
OpenAI CEO quoted predicting AI will replace most human jobs and that UBI will be necessary.
Seattle-based entrepreneur and proponent of middle-out economics cited by Cenk as an advocate for boosting the middle class as consumers to drive economic growth.
Cenk Uygur's online media company, described as the longest-running daily online stream in internet history; referenced as a source for Cenk's political analysis.
AI company whose CEO Dario Amodei predicted AI could eliminate 50% of entry-level white-collar jobs within five years.
Discussed as the maker of ChatGPT, with CEO Sam Altman quoted predicting AI will replace most jobs.
CEO Dara Khosrowshahi privately told Steven Bartlett Uber plans to automate all 9.4 million driver jobs and admitted he does not know what those workers will do.
Humanoid robotics company whose four-day livestream of a robot sorting parcels on a factory floor was cited as evidence of imminent job displacement.
Data analytics and AI company Cenk Uygur said he does not trust, citing concerns about AI-driven military targeting.
Chinese AI model cited as the primary competitive threat to US AI leadership; discussed as the reason the US must urgently build compute capacity.
Subject of ongoing US military strikes; both guests debate whether the war serves American or exclusively Israeli interests.
Central to the geopolitics discussion; Cenk argues Israel controls US foreign policy through lobby donations and drove the US into war with Iran.
Identified as America's primary AI adversary; alleged by O'Leary to be funding opposition to US data center construction, and cited as a key player in Strait of Hormuz dynamics.
Strategic waterway whose blockade by Iran drives up global oil prices and energy costs; central to both the Middle East conflict and global economic discussion.
Kevin O'Leary has investments in the UAE through ADGM and describes it as the capital of capital in the region, now disrupted by the Iran conflict.
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