Despite executive warnings about AI replacing workers, only 75 job cuts were explicitly tied to AI implementation out of 286,679 layoffs this year. The real story is more complex.
Each time we see “company laid off X employees to replace them with AI”. Is it really to replace them with AI or is it just layoff because we are in recession that are disguised with AI to make it sound better ?
I’m going to say that every layoff has a cover story. The goal, reduce the workforce make/save money, is really the only justification needed. Everything else is PR, and an attempt to stay out of legal hot water.
I’m having a thought now.
Each time we see “company laid off X employees to replace them with AI”. Is it really to replace them with AI or is it just layoff because we are in recession that are disguised with AI to make it sound better ?
I’m going to say that every layoff has a cover story. The goal, reduce the workforce make/save money, is really the only justification needed. Everything else is PR, and an attempt to stay out of legal hot water.
I was recently swimming in that thought soup, myself.
In reality, the truth is somewhere in between. Yes, AI is taking real jobs right now, not a speculative future, but so are the economic issues.
There are just so many people suffering. Young and old, there’s not a demographic untouched by it. Plenty of blame to go around, for sure.