AI Job Cuts Spur Regret, Focus on Reskilling

AI adoption is rapidly reshaping workforces across industries, with companies like IBM, Klarna, UPS, Duolingo, Cisco, Intuit, and Salesforce replacing hundreds to thousands of jobs with artificial intelligence. Executives argue that automation allows investment in areas demanding human skills, such as programming and sales, leading to the emergence of new roles like machine learning and prompt engineers. However, a number of tech leaders now regret making hasty layoffs in favor of AI and are shifting focus toward better workforce planning and reskilling. AI proficiency is increasingly required in hiring and performance evaluations. While companies tout the productivity gains of automation, concerns remain over job security and the long-term effects of rapid technological change. The trend is driven by economic pressures and investor enthusiasm for AI-driven efficiency.