Increasingly, the impetus for change does not come from layoffs, but from the decisions of the employees themselves. 30-year-old Travis Di Lombardi-Spicer resigned from his job after being denied a raise and concerns about the impact of AI on the audio industry. He invested PLN 40,000. hole. own funds and in May launched Spotbookr, an artificial intelligence-based platform that analyzes consumer spending.
A similar decision was made by Michelle Yeung, a former software engineer earning $250,000. hole. annually. After several years of burnout and observing the changes related to AI, she opened the Matcha House cafe in New York.
Record growth in the number of new companies
According to U.S. Census Bureau data analyzed by CNBC Make It, From November to January, 1.56 million new business registration applications were filed in the United States — the highest rate in three months since at least 2004. Experts explain that the growth of entrepreneurship is often accompanied by labor market stagnation and mass layoffs.
However, the new wave of entrepreneurs is different from previous generations. More and more people do not wait for notice – they leave their jobs themselvesanticipating upcoming changes. Many of them point out that AI makes it easier to start their own companies, and the decision to leave their job is an attempt to take control over their professional future.
In the Resume Now study from December 2025, 40 percent of Americans surveyed said AI was already “replacing, devaluing, or becoming part of their responsibilities,” and 29 percent believes that AI could efficiently perform half of their daily tasks.
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Entrepreneurial risk versus job risk
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics about 25 percent new companies in the US will not survive even a year. At the same time, more and more employees fear that traditional jobs do not guarantee stability either.
Saikat Chaudhuri, academic director of the entrepreneurship center at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, emphasizes that geopolitical instability, rising costs of living and a deepening lack of trust in employers are encouraging Americans to take control of their careers and income. — The opportunity cost of starting a company is now lower because opportunities on the labor market are no longer so attractive, he says.
Read also: A Google executive has simple advice on how to pursue a career in the age of AI
AI empowers a new wave of entrepreneurs
Although generative AI eliminates some positions, it also lowers the barrier to entry into business. Entrepreneurs use it to create websites, marketing content and financial analyses. In many cases, AI takes over routine administrative tasks that previously required the employment of additional people.
Experts warn, however, that while artificial intelligence can support small businesses, it does not guarantee success. The growing number of new companies means more competition.
