Mechanize, a new startup founded by AI researcher Tamay Besiroglu, has received widespread attention and criticism following its public launch. Announced via a post on social media platform X, the company’s goal is to automate all forms of work, starting with white-collar jobs. Besiroglu described the total market potential as the full value of global wages, estimated at around 60 trillion US dollars annually. His announcement has since triggered backlash, particularly due to his role at Epoch, a respected non-profit research institute focused on AI economics and benchmarks.
Critics argue that the launch of Mechanize undermines the credibility of Epoch, which has previously positioned itself as a neutral player in AI research. Some members of the AI community expressed disappointment that research insights from Epoch may now be viewed as having supported commercial efforts to accelerate labour automation. Epoch had already come under scrutiny in 2024 when it was revealed that OpenAI helped shape one of its benchmarks, which was then used to promote OpenAI’s newest model.
Despite the criticism, Besiroglu insists that automation could create a more prosperous society. He believes that removing humans from traditional labour roles would lead to rapid economic growth, more affordable goods, and new industries. He also argued that people could still earn income through assets like investments or government support in a fully automated future. However, sceptics warn that without jobs, many people may be unable to access the economic benefits such automation might produce.
Mechanize is backed by notable figures in the tech and investment world, including Nat Friedman, Patrick Collison, and Jeff Dean, though some have declined to comment publicly on the venture. The startup joins a growing list of companies attempting to improve AI agents’ reliability and long-term task performance. While Besiroglu acknowledges that current AI agents are far from perfect, he sees the development of more capable systems as essential to achieving Mechanize’s vision.
The company is now recruiting talent to help build digital environments and data systems that can enable task automation across industries. Its launch underscores a broader trend of aggressive AI experimentation, even as ethical and economic questions about the future of work remain unresolved.
