Fintech Innovation: Will Robots Take Jobs?

Max Levchin: Robots Cannot Replace Humans

Affirm CEO Max Levchin stated that he does not believe robots will take jobs away from humans, drawing from his experience in the finance sector. Speaking at the Yahoo Finance Invest conference, Levchin said, "I don't see this as a threat to our workforce. Artificial intelligence and realized artificial intelligence are a set of useful tools for us to live better."

One of the founders of PayPal, Levchin established Affirm in 2012, which offers a buy now, pay later (BNPL) service. This fintech has garnered significant interest by providing users with a flexible payment system without any fees.

The BNPL market continues to grow. According to a Federal Reserve report, 15% of Americans are expected to use BNPL services in 2024. Among these individuals, 58% stated they used the service for purchases they normally could not afford. Affirm's shares increased by 25% in 2025.

Artificial intelligence remains a critical topic of discussion. Levchin believes that humanoid robots will not create significant problems as feared. Although robots that cook eggs or do housework are not yet a reality, he believes that such developments will direct humans towards more interesting and intellectually stimulating jobs in the future.

Levchin suggests that the workforce will adapt to the loss of physical jobs. "This has been true at various times in history. There was a time when hammering iron was a real job. Now, jobs such as die cutting and casting are done with machines. This has happened several times in history, and we have always built a better future," he said.

Employees' views on artificial intelligence are mixed. A study showed that 79% of participants believe AI impacts their work.

Affirm reported solid results for the first quarter of its fiscal year 2026. Analysts remain optimistic about the positive trends seen by the company. Goldman Sachs analyst Will Nance rated the firm as 'Buy', setting a target price of $94.

“We continue to remain positive on the story and expect ongoing gains in shares to support the valuation and enhance stock performance,” he noted.

JPMorgan's Reginald Smith also gave a ‘Overweight’ rating for Affirm, with a target price of $94. “We expect Affirm's premium volume growth (>%20) and operational margins to improve. This growth will be supported by Affirm's platform partners like Shopify, Amazon, Apple Pay, and the rapidly growing Direct-to-Consumer business model, Affirm Card,” he said.

Levchin also emphasized the importance of artificial intelligence in the future of humanity. "These systems will make all of us smarter as they have PhDs in any field. They can educate us, guide us, and help us become more decisive,” he expressed his thoughts.