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The tech world was shaken recently when Artisan AI, a startup building autonomous AI employees, launched a provocative billboard campaign in Times Square, New York, featuring slogans like “Stop Hiring Humans” and “Artisans won’t complain about work-life balance.” The bold messaging sparked outrage, with critics accusing the company of being anti-worker and tone-deaf. However, CEO Jaspar Carmichael-Jack is standing by the campaign—and has offered insights into the company’s mission and next steps.
Jaspar CJ Breaks His Silence
In interviews following the campaign, Jaspar Carmichael-Jack described the backlash as both expected and valuable.
“The campaign was meant to start a conversation,” he said in a recent statement. “We knew it would be provocative. But the future of work is already changing—and we need to talk about that, not run from it.”
He emphasized that Artisan AI is not anti-human, but rather focused on building AI tools that can handle repetitive tasks and allow humans to focus on more creative, strategic work.
“Artisans [the AI agents] don’t take jobs. They free people up from doing things they were never passionate about in the first place,” he added.
What Does Artisan AI Actually Do?
Artisan AI builds AI agents like Ava, a virtual sales representative that can manage lead generation, cold outreach, and customer interaction. These AI “employees” are designed to integrate with a company’s team and work continuously without breaks, salary, or emotional fatigue.
The idea, according to Jaspar, is not full replacement—but collaboration between AI and humans. However, the marketing tone of the campaign deliberately pushed boundaries to gain attention—and it worked. The company reported over 200 million online impressions and a significant boost in demo requests.
Artisan AI’s Future Plans
Carmichael-Jack revealed several key plans for the near future:
- New AI Roles: The company will soon launch additional agents for marketing, HR, and support, expanding beyond sales.
- Artisan OS: A platform that allows companies to customize and manage their AI workforce.
- Regulatory Alignment: Artisan is committed to complying with laws like NYC’s Local Law 144, ensuring transparency in AI-assisted hiring.
- Hiring Real People: Ironically, Artisan is also hiring human staff, including engineers and marketing professionals.
While many found the “Stop Hiring Humans” campaign unsettling, Artisan AI’s CEO insists it was never about erasing people—it was about evolving work. Jaspar Carmichael-Jack’s vision is one of a hybrid future, where AI does the grunt work, and humans do what only humans can: create, empathize, and lead.
The controversy may have stirred the pot—but it has also spotlighted an important debate on where the future of work is heading.
