Silicon Valley's rapid development of AI agents is poised to disrupt various industries, potentially displacing a significant number of jobs. While many founders and investors acknowledge this risk, they often downplay its impact, citing the creation of new jobs as a counterbalance. However, venture capitalist Mike Ghaffary is taking a more proactive approach, recognizing the need to create high-paying, middle-class jobs for those without advanced degrees in AI and machine learning.

Ghaffary, known for his investments in Superhuman, Strava, Faire, Optimizely, and CloudKitchens, has left Canvas Ventures to join Burst Capital, a VC firm founded by former Yelp executives. At Burst, Ghaffary aims to support startups that create good-paying jobs, rather than simply displacing existing ones. This shift in focus is a deliberate response to the looming threat of AI-driven job displacement.

Ghaffary's concerns are rooted in the reality that many AI startups are focused on automating tasks, potentially eliminating jobs in customer service, sales, IT, and other sectors. Even AI startup Boardy is automating introductions to people, replacing the role of the "helpful VC." While some argue that AI will create new jobs, Ghaffary believes that the industry must take a more active role in creating high-paying opportunities for those who may not have advanced degrees in AI and machine learning.

To achieve this goal, Ghaffary is looking to back companies that offer tech solutions to small business owners, such as Owner.com, which helps mom and pop restaurant owners with marketing, and GlossGenius, which provides all-in-one booking and payments software for hairdressers. His own portfolio includes ResQ, which helps restaurants and hospitality businesses manage their equipment repair needs. However, he sees a significant gap in startups using AI to create high-paying jobs, particularly in vocational training.

Ghaffary envisions a platform that uses AI to provide affordable, virtual, or AI-enhanced training for high-paying trades like industrial electricians or commercial plumbers. This would enable millions of people to upskill and reskill, reducing the risk of being left behind in an increasingly automated economy. By addressing this gap, Ghaffary hopes to create a more equitable future, where AI-driven job displacement is mitigated by the creation of new, high-paying opportunities.

The implications of Ghaffary's approach are far-reaching, as it acknowledges the need for the tech industry to take responsibility for the consequences of AI-driven job displacement. By focusing on creating good-paying, middle-class jobs, Ghaffary and Burst Capital are setting a new standard for the industry, one that prioritizes the well-being of workers alongside innovation and progress.

As the AI revolution continues to reshape industries, Ghaffary's initiative serves as a timely reminder of the need for a more nuanced approach to job creation and displacement. By supporting startups that create high-paying opportunities, the tech industry can work towards a more equitable future, where the benefits of AI are shared by all.