Automation’s Impact on American Workforce
In Kansas City, I met Jesse, an Uber driver. He shared that his girlfriend’s mother and a friend had moved in with them. Rising housing costs and gas prices strained his finances. Jesse is one of approximately 1.6 million rideshare drivers in the U.S.
That same week, PepsiCo announced a significant move towards automation. Partnering with Gatik AI, they launched a fleet of fully autonomous delivery trucks, marking a $600 million investment. Since June 2025, medium-duty Isuzu trucks have operated without drivers, delivering products between distribution centers and stores like Walmart and Dollar General. This fleet boasts a 99 percent on-time delivery rate with no accidents.
PepsiCo is not just testing these waters. Gatik, Isuzu, and Nvidia plan a production facility in South Carolina to mass-produce Level 4 autonomous trucks by the latter half of 2027. “The volumes for this year are in the hundreds,” stated Gatik’s CEO.
The U.S. has around 3.5 million truck drivers. Automation continues to impact industries. Waymo operates nearly 3,800 robotaxis and plans to enter 20 new markets by 2026’s end. Tesla and Amazon’s Zoox are expanding rapidly. Robotaxis have become a normal sight in cities like Phoenix and Austin.
Consider this statistic: 32 percent of U.S. adults, about 83 million people, own a gun. Ownership primarily resides in rural areas among men without college degrees—the demographic most vulnerable to automation.
Additionally, retail crime presents a growing concern. From 2019 to 2023, 69 percent of retailers increased security measures, and by 2024, 20 percent closed stores due to theft. In San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York, retail theft has resulted in closures and increased security.
California’s Proposition 47, enacted in 2014, reclassified theft of goods under $950 as a misdemeanor. Critics argue this facilitated organized theft rings. Though the law has been revised, its impact persists.
Societies experiencing rapid technological changes without retraining efforts and safety nets often face challenges. The political arena overlooks these issues while debating less significant matters.
Jesse, like many others, hopes for continued work despite looming automation threats. As technology reshapes the job landscape, the critical question remains: what support will be provided to those affected?
Chocko Valliappa is an entrepreneur and Chairman of the Sona Group. He established HireMee, a platform connecting job-seekers with employers globally. This initiative is recognized for its impact in reskilling workers.