Jason Greer, Greer Consulting founder and president, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the AI theme for 2026, the impacts to insurance and much more.

The release of Open AI's ChatGPT has accelerated the development of artificial intelligence and warnings about its impact on society.

Rise of AI

Jason Greer, founder of Greer Consulting, addressed the dual nature of artificial intelligence in the workforce, noting both its integration into daily life and its role in recent layoffs at major companies like Amazon and Microsoft. He explained that while some layoffs are genuinely due to automation, others are labeled as 'AI layoffs' for market reasons, with some companies rehiring workers at lower wages.

Industries such as insurance and travel are experiencing significant disruption, with firms like Chubb planning substantial workforce reductions as technology automates key tasks. Greer emphasized the importance of reskilling, citing Stanford University's efforts to encourage students to pursue advanced degrees to adapt to the evolving job market, while older employees are advised to reassess and update their skills to remain competitive.

AI threats and promises

For specifics on what to watch, we are joined by Jason Greer of Greer Consulting, founder and president, is with us this morning. Jason, thanks for being here. I wrote this down as my top theme for 2026. Actually, I wrote it down for myself. I was just wondering what I was thinking about next year. And I said, well, either this thing continues in the AI boom and the market gets very excited and maybe it turns its interest to the users of AI or you have the downside risk that the whole thing ends up being not what we expected and we lose a lot of jobs because of it. So tell me what I should think about all this, Jason. Well, you should consider when you think about artificial intelligence, look at it from this perspective, that the future is now. Artificial intelligence is legitimately embedded in everything we do, from your cell phones to even the way that schools are preparing their students for what life is going to look like when they actually graduate. Think what we're going to see in the market. We're going to see, you know, when you had Amazon, we had Microsoft to announce layoffs last year or this year. Right. You're going to see sort of the midsize markets, midsize jobs that are going to be eventually let go. But I think overall, what companies are looking at is can we afford AI? And also, what is AI going to do for us now in 2026, but also 2027, 2028? We have a list up right now of tech layoffs and we have a large number at Microsoft, a large number at Amazon. But there was something that we called AI washing, where they basically said they were AI layoffs. But when you dug a little deeper, they weren't necessarily AI layoffs. What's the reality here, Jason? Are companies laying off people because they're instituting AI or are they laying off people and calling it AI because they don't want to admit to weaknesses? I hate to take people behind the cover, but I'm going to take you behind the cover because I'm having these conversations behind closed doors. And here's what it looks like. AI for a lot of companies is just really good window washing, because what's really happening behind the scenes is people are understanding that we have a bunch of talent, that unfortunately the market is going to reward us for laying people off. But on the other side of that is we lay folks off. We say that it's because of artificial intelligence. And then we rehire you for half of what we paid you. So it's one of those things that artificial intelligence in some sectors, let's be real, some sectors people are laying people off because of artificial intelligence and automation, because that's the reality. But on the other side, it's business. People are not in business because they just want to keep people. People are in business in order to move products, make money for their shareholders. And one of the best way to make money for the shareholders is to do what the market rewards, and that's to lay people off, unfortunately. In the industries that I cover, we're seeing the disruption in travel and a lot of skepticism about whether, you know, online travel agents are going to be put out of business by chat GPT deciding where you should go and what you should do. I have seen no bigger disruptor than in the insurance industry, where I can go in and do so much of the underwriting, the risk evaluation claims and the administrative tasks. And in fact, we heard Chubb saying they plan to lay off 20 percent of the workforce over the next three years or so as they start to incorporate more and more technology. What do you do with all those people who lose their jobs? I mean, at some point, what's if you're an insurance agent or a claims adjuster, where else can you go and work? What kind of reskilling can you get? That's the biggest challenge that we're seeing. You know, you have Stanford University that just announced that. And I don't tend to be a tech person. So please understand. Please forgive me if I butcher these terms. But you have students who are graduating who were quote who could do code. And, you know, they were the people going to Amazon. There are people going to Microsoft three years ago making a bunch of money. But now what they're finding is that those jobs are essentially being done by AI and there's really no need for them. I think what happens in this is becomes a generational perspective. If you're young, what a Stanford University is doing is that they're actively encouraging their their students stay an additional year, stay additional two years. Get your master's degree, retool your skill set so that you're ready to go into the market. If you happen to be like I'm 51 years old. So I'm looking at a world in which that looks a lot different today than it did when I graduated college in 1996. So I think it's one of those things that if you're an older employee, you have to take a step back and ask, what do I think the market is going to reward? Not today, but tomorrow.

Munitions factories are expected to expand capacity and build new plants as the regime in Pyongyang intensifies weapons development and furthers its ties with Russia.

Pyongyang

Kim Jong-un orders North Korea to boost missile production in 2026

The United States launched airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Nigeria's Sokoto State on Thursday. Nigerian authorities denied Trump's claim of mass killings of Christians amid mixed reactions to the U.S. intervention.

Abuja

Nigeria confirms cooperation with U.S. strikes on IS targets

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday (December 26) he planned to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump soon and that a lot could be decided before the New Year as Washington pushes diplomatic efforts to end the war with Russia.

Washington

Ukraine Invasion

Zelenskiy: 'A lot' can be decided before New Year ahead of Trump talk

The United States carried out airstrikes against ISIS militants in northwest Nigeria at the request of Nigeria's government, U.S. President Donald Trump and the U.S. military said on Thursday, claiming the group had been targeting Christians in the region.

U.S. launches 'deadly' airstrikes in Nigeria targeting ISIS: Trump

Official results show Asfura edged out his main rival Salvador Nasralla by less than one percentage point. Marred by delays and fraud claims, the Honduran election continues Latin America's shift to the right.

Tegucigalpa

Honduras: Trump ally Nasry Asfura wins disputed presidency

Several people were killed in Southern California when severe storms with heavy rain caused mudslides and flooding, which was made worse in areas affected by wildfires in January.

Heavy rain, flooding turns deadly in California

The U.S. Department of Justice says it has found more than a million more documents potentially tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, delaying a full release for weeks while officials redact details to protect victims.

DOJ reviews over 1 million newly found Epstein documents

Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first Christmas Mass Wednesday evening where he described the celebration as a feast of "faith, charity and hope". He reminded the faithful that refusing to help the poor and vulnerable is comparable to rejecting God altogether.

Rome

Pope Leo reminds believers to help the poor in first Christmas mass

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signaled progress in a Ukraine-Russia peace plan, after he told journalists about a new draft that would include a free economic zone and demilitarization. Holly Williams has the latest.

Kyiv

Zelenskyy signals progress with Ukraine-Russia peace plan

Democrats and some Republicans are blasting the Justice Department over its handling of the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, which included major redactions.

U.S. lawmakers blast DOJ over Epstein files release

Bolsonaro is expected to undergo the procedure on 25 December.

Brasília

Brazil's ex-president Bolsonaro temporarily leaves prison for surgery

Two police officers have been killed in an explosion in Moscow, Russian investigators said on Wednesday. Their deaths come just two days after a car bomb killed a top general in the same area of the Russia capital.

Moscow

Three people killed in Moscow car explosion, Russian authorities say

European intelligence agencies say investigations into Russian interference now consume as much time as terrorist threats.

Paris

Pro-Russian hackers claim French postal service cyberattack

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country and the United States have reached a consensus on several critical issues aimed at bringing an end to the conflict with Russia — but sensitivities around territorial control in Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland and the management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remain unresolved.

U.S., Ukraine reach consensus on some key issues to end war with Russia

The latest Epstein file release alleges a connection between former prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell, including emails in which an individual identified as 'A' requested 'inappropriate friends.'

London

Latest Epstein release alleges new link to ex-prince Andrew

The US and Venezuela are in a war of words at the UN Security council following America's seizure of ships off Venezuela's coast. Venezuela's ambassador strongly condemned the U.S. actions, labeling them as extrajudicial executions and a military blockade intended to destabilize the country.

New York

U.S., Venezuela in war of words at UNSC over military strikes

Two people are dead after an explosion at a nursing home in Bristol, Pennsylvania, and several are still missing, Gov. Josh Shapiro said.

Bristol

Two dead, several missing after nursing home explosion in Pennsylvania

A Delaware state trooper was killed Tuesday during a shooting at a Wilmington DMV, the Delaware State Police said. The state's governor confirmed the shooter is also dead.

Wilmington

Delaware state trooper killed in DMV shooting, officials say

The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that President Trump cannot deploy the National Guard troops to Chicago as a legal challenge moves ahead.

Supreme Court blocks deployment of National Guard to Illinois

The Justice Department released a new trove of documents from its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including an email from a prosecutor indicating President Donald Trump had traveled aboard his private jet "many more times than previously has been reported."

Trump flew on Epstein jet 8 times according to newly released files

The Libyan army's chief of staff, Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, died in a plane crash after leaving Turkey's capital Ankara, the prime minister of Libya's internationally-recognized government said, adding that four others were on the jet as well.

Haymana

Libyan army's chief dies in plane crash in Turkey

Two men have been found guilty of plotting to kill hundreds in an Islamic State-inspired gun rampage against the Jewish community in England, a planned attack investigators say demonstrates the resurgent risk posed by the militant group.

Bolton

Two men found guilty of UK plot to kill Jews as IS fears grow

The FDA has approved the pill version of the weight loss drug Wegovy, the first oral medication of its kind. The new pills are expected to be available in a few weeks.

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French Parliament has approved the Stopgap Bill two days before Christmas. The budget bill now moves to French senate.

Parijs

French Parliament approves Stopgap Bill: Budget bill moves to senate

Russia fired more than 650 drones and three dozen missiles at Ukraine in a large-scale attack that began during the night and stretched into daylight hours Tuesday, officials said. At least three people were killed, including a 4-year-old child, two days before Christmas.

Kiev

Russia carries out massive drone attack on Ukraine's energy sector

The U.S. Department of Justice has released another batch of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including videos, emails and documents. CBS News' Scott MacFarlane reports.

U.S. Justice Department releases new trove of Epstein files

The leaders of Denmark and Greenland insisted that the United States won't take over Greenland and demanded respect for their territorial integrity after President Donald Trump ‍​announced ​the appointment of a ‌special envoy to the semi-autonomous territory.

Nuuk

Trump's appointment of envoy to Greenland sparks tension with Denmark

Australia's most populous state is set to pass tougher gun laws, ban the display of terrorist symbols and curb protests after the state parliament's lower house cleared a bill late on Monday (December 22) in an emergency sitting following the Bondi mass shooting.

Council of the City of Sydney

Australia's NSW to tighten gun, hate speech laws after Bondi attack

On Monday, President Trump announced a new class of Navy battleships he's calling the "Golden Fleet." The president said two vessels will be built in the short term, with plans to expand to up to 25.

Trump unveils plans for new fleet of advanced Navy battleships

China's foreign ministry on Monday (December 22) said the United States' seizure of another country's ships was a serious violation of international law, after the U.S. intercepted a China-bound oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast.

AI threats and promises

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Rise of AI