Corporate leaders are championing AI adoption among their workforces even as companies use the technology to justify mass layoffs. Meta laid off approximately 8,000 employees this month while simultaneously redirecting more than 7,000 workers toward AI-focused projects. Former data analyst Lis Cooper described being asked to embrace AI as feeling like actively contributing to her own replacement. An Economist/YouGov poll of roughly 1,500 U.S. adults reflects growing pessimism about AI’s impact on employment, highlighting a deepening tension between executive enthusiasm and worker anxiety.
In-Depth:
Business Insider reports that many CEOs are publicly encouraging employees to embrace AI even as some companies cite the technology when cutting jobs. Business Insider quotes a former data analyst, Lis Cooper, stateing workplace AI requests felt like contributing to technology that could replace them. Business Insider also reports that Meta laid off about 8,000 employees this month and stated it was shifting more than 7,000 employees onto AI-focapplyd projects, with a spokesperson describing the alters as including “layoffs, open role closures, and shifting thousands of employees to business critical priorities across the company.” Business Insider cites an Economist/YouGov poll of about 1,500 US adults revealing rising pessimism about AI’s workforce impact.
