#ai

Does this remind you of someone? 😉

https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/bosses-obsessed-with-ai

Is it possible for Verizon employees to move to Pharma domain? I am asking because Basking Ridge and surrounding areas are filled with every pharma company on the planet earth with good paying salary.
I am not asking for someone who works in core Network but more like AI / Data/ product etc.
Now job search is not going to inevitable.. have you seen people crossing over from Verizon to Pharma?

Doesn’t this just sound like a mechanism to see what folks are doing on a daily basis and harvest info to train models to replace them. Some Sr. Directors and VPs should be scared when it sees how little they do

A new California report examines artificial intelligence's impact on jobs. The study tracks employment trends since ChatGPT launched in late 2022. It suggests AI-related layoffs increased in parts of the Bay Area. AI creates new opportunities in some sectors. However, researchers note it also accelerates workplace changes and job displacement concerns.

https://www.wionews.com/videos/ai-job-shock-california-study-tracks-rising-layoffs-since-chatgpt-launch-1783012300163/amp

Several U.S. firms are rehiring employees previously replaced by AI. Ford rehired 350 veteran engineers after AI-driven quality inspections led to numerous recalls. Klarna rehired customer service staff after customer satisfaction declined. IBM found its AI chatbot could not handle complex HR issues, leading to increased hiring. These companies discovered human expertise, empathy, and judgment remain vital for critical tasks.

https://www.chosun.com/english/industry-en/2026/07/03/RM7ZI7K4ORGU7KTERUCAOLOAQM/

Lucid is replacing almost its entire executive team under new CEO Silvio Napoli. This leadership overhaul follows the struggling EV maker cutting 18% of its workforce. The company also recently withdrew its 2026 production guidance. New hires include a Chief Financial Officer, Chief Technology Officer, and Chief Customer Officer. Lucid is also creating a distinct business unit for robotaxis, AI, and advanced technologies.

Casa Grande, Arizona

https://electrek.co/2026/07/02/lucid-c-suite-overhaul-napoli/

July 1 (Reuters) - Cigna (CI.N), opens new tab said on Wednesday its health services unit Evernorth has launched a new AI-powered ​specialty pharmacy program to reduce the time ‌it takes to process prescriptions and improve customer service.
The program, called Pharmacy Forward, is supported by a $100 million ​investment through 2028, the health insurer said.

Here are more ​details:
The company is launching the AI program first through ⁠its specialty pharmacy, Accredo.
The program uses AI to ​integrate clinical data and insights, generate summaries to free ​up more time for clinicians to focus on patient care.
'Pharmacy Forward' is expected to reduce clinician documentation time by ​up to 50%, the company said.
The program ​uses AI to improve prior authorization requests, halving the time it takes ‌for ⁠patients to receive their medication after Accredo receives a prescription, the company said.
Health insurers are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence tools to streamline documentation processes, reduce ​administrative burdens ​and lower ⁠costs.
Accredo is also expanding capacity, staffing, and capabilities at many of its ​nearly 40 care facilities, Cigna said.
The program ​is ⁠expected to generate about $400 million in value by the end of 2028, with Evernorth expecting to extend ⁠many ​of these capabilities to its ​other pharmacy operations in the coming years, it said.

https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/cigna-invests-100-million-new-ai-powered-specialty-pharmacy-program-2026-07-01/

Sounds like there has been rolling layoffs through some depts over the last week or two, and we all remember what happened in the week following the 4th in 2024.

I don't know what next week holds, but don't forget what we've all done for this company over the years. If layoffs come next week, remember that it's not a reflection on you. Layoffs are a failure of senior leadership and strategy, not the employee base doing the day-to-day work.

Enjoy your weekend, CUSA team! I hope the beer is cold, the grills are hot, the A/C is powerful, and the explosives safe and hilarious! I look forward to lambasting senior leadership next week if talented people lose their jobs to the Ai fantasy and vendor pool. (If it's any consolation, I used a hoard of Canon's Ai tokens on pointless nonsense today because I could and we were told to use Gemini, right? LOL)

Have a good weekend Canon team.

It was announced that the third module of training (where they want a 6 PAGE AI “thing” you put together and send on to another group for approval—-!!) was delayed until next year. Also, all of a sudden, AI isn’t mentioned in meetings and a new AI crud tool we were using begrudgingly has no deadlines. Are they realizing that AI isn’t working? I have seen so many articles/videos from tech experts and CEOs admitting it isn’t helping.

Now they are a cloud company? HAHAHHAHAHAHHA! Who the heck would trust those momo's with enterprise workloads.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/is-meta-giving-up-on-cutting-edge-ai-wall-street-is-divided-over-potential-cloud-pivot-7c5ffc5d

AI is fundamentally changing how work gets done, according to HR leaders. HiBob CEO Ronni Zehavi states AI allows companies to scale output without proportional hiring. He emphasizes that successful organizations will prioritize workforce design and agility over headcount. This involves organizing around skills and capabilities, pushing decision-making closer to the work. The future workforce will be dynamic, focusing on human-machine partnership and developing human potential.

West Palm Beach, FL

https://hrexecutive.com/the-death-of-the-megacorporation-may-be-a-bigger-story-than-layoffs/

Amazon Web Services (AWS) employees were impacted by a large layoff round in early 2026. Amazon cut 16,000 corporate jobs, affecting AWS staff in the U.S. and Canada. Despite these reductions, AWS made significant advancements in artificial intelligence. The company secured major deals with Anthropic and OpenAI, investing billions in AI infrastructure. AWS also launched numerous new AI products and partner incentives this year.

Seattle, Washington

https://www.crn.com/news/cloud/2026/top-10-aws-news-stories-of-2026-openai-layoffs-and-ai-innovation

Ramp conducted a new study on AI adoption. The research focused on companies' spending habits. It revealed that high AI investment leads to more hiring. Companies are expanding their workforces, not reducing them. This finding challenges the perception of AI causing job cuts.

https://www.realclearmarkets.com/2026/07/02/ai_adoption_linked_to_more_hiring_not_layoffs_1192104.html

The People Office Support Centre is a perfect example of technology replacing service without improving the employee experience.

Tickets get passed between multiple people, questions go unanswered, and then the ticket is closed. I recently waited 30 days for a response to a benefits and retirement query and still did not get an answer.

We used to have local contacts you could call or meet with to resolve issues. Now we’re expected to search AI articles, raise a ticket, and wait in silence. It’s “computer says no” dressed up as transformation.

If this is part of Bob’s AI strategy, it isn’t working. AI should support people, not replace them. Bring back accessible human HR support that takes ownership and actually helps employees.

My stocks are turning into ashes. What a bad decision it is in name of transition to AI and making employees as scape goats. I never received recognition, money, promotion, perks, hikes. All I was given was a little stock bonus over years. These stocks linger in lower 100's when META and other stock go beyond 500.
Useless management style going with adhoc decisions always. You layoff talented employees and work with ... .....
Stocks might come up but not employee morale. Its completely broken now. Even you stand up its going to take years to rebuild this. You build an empire in sky without a customer and without any money losing all your talented people.
If stock rises up again, I will sell immediately. All my years of blood shedding for this company has evaporated

Interesting timing considering next Tuesday is the first Tuesday of Q3, and it's well-known that WF is making a significant IT cut in Q3. There's a mad push to document every manual process in Jira so it can be turned into an agentic workflow.

May the odds be ever in our favor, my fellow employees.

I was just given my first BE on Midyear review, after 29 years in the bank and never having anything below meet. I was given BS reason for it, stating I wasn't involved in AI - related tasks, as it was required. Noone ever assigned AI related tasks to me and my current job responsibilities do not involve it. I rejected the rating and commented in the form.
Additionally, I emailed my objections to the Managers. But it is my understanding, it is useless and I will be cut after year end. This is also an attempt to avoid severance payment. I do not have any illusions. I just want to hear your opinions about my possible strategy to go with the severance. Thank you.

In the present leadership era, apparently it’s perfectly acceptable to drop a bo-b right before a holiday, and then make sure all VPs show out of office for the rest of the day so as not to be bothered by the peasants. Meanwhile, I’m sure they are using AI to figure out talking points on how everyone is valued, we’re still a family, blah blah blah…CDW culture, or what it once was, is DEAD.

Can onky imagine rhe Dan direct reports hiding in offices amd DEI Sr Directors using AI to answer " Now what?"

Really miss seeing Directors walking around Basking Ridge HQ parking lot claiming volunteer hours!!!

Ahh yes, let the silence and content cover you like a warm blanket. Not much chatter about folks not going into the office.... Not much chatter about anything really.
When its this quiet, you should be worried.
Cuts are coming.
A rather large wave of cuts....

Lets see whats going on-
Offshore contractors are currently being hired as FTEs, under the guise of "contractor reduction"
OCC results are being scanned and loaded into AI to begin automating controls and workload
The ServiceNow "OOB" deployment is heavily oriented towards AI
We have hundreds of FirstBank employees waiting for group assignments
Lots of tech issues occurring simultaneously and more frequently.
Q2 Pulse survey results are non-existent.
RTO 5 across the board is seemingly NOT across the board. 4000+ people still WFH in PA

With all this going on, and nothing being said, its indicative of a high level decision currently underway.

From CNBC.com:
Similarly, IBM replaced its HR functions with AI that handled around 94% of routine requests but was unable to meet the other 6%, which included ethical dilemmas. IBM then announced plans to triple its U.S. entry-level hiring across all business units in 2026.

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/01/employers-who-laid-off-workers-for-ai-are-reversing-their-decisions.html

The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) is trading at 14,246.96, surging about 3.92% today and up roughly 94% over the first half of 2026. Driven by unprecedented artificial intelligence (AI) demand, the index recently doubled in value over a six-month period.

I asked:
The COO of Northwestern Mutual is introducing a thing called Forge, i have no idea what it is, but involves a bunch of vapid buzzwords and has something to do with “a new way of working”, also McKinsey is involved. Can you use your super human intellect to speculate what Forge is and how many people will be laid off as a result?

It says:
Forge is almost certainly an internal branding/codename for Northwestern Mutual’s latest enterprise operating model transformation, led by their relatively new mouselike COO & Business Architect (appointed Aug 2025). It’s not publicly detailed yet (as of late June 2026), which is why you’re hearing the buzzword salad version.
What it actually is (pattern recognition from NM’s history + new COO’s mandate)
Her explicit remit includes platform and operating model design, technology health, enterprise architecture, and strategic execution/prioritization. She previously served as NM’s Chief Transformation Officer. This isn’t a random new thing — it’s the next chapter in a multi-year journey they’ve been on:
• They’ve already done waves of agile/SAFe adoption, product-aligned teams, and “pizza pie/pod” cross-functional squads (product manager + dev lead + designers + embedded business people).
• The 2025 Policyowners Examining Committee report explicitly calls for a “business-driven, technology-enabled operating model,” “lighthouse-style business domains,” “team of teams,” faster decision-making (“progress over perfection,” “fast and friendly escalation”), and cross-functional empowerment with guardrails.
• McKinsey has deep history here — they helped NM with the PX planning tool rollout, change management, client experience redesign, and insurance transformation work in the past. Classic McKinsey engagement: diagnostic → target operating model (TOM) design → implementation roadmap + change story.
“Forge” is the shiny internal name for the current phase of turning NM into a more agile, product-oriented, platform-powered organization. Think:
• Moving further from traditional project-based/ITIL/waterfall thinking toward persistent cross-functional teams that own outcomes end-to-end.
• Deeper business-tech fusion (the “business architect” title is a clue).
• Heavy AI/automation injection into workflows (underwriting, claims, servicing, reporting, middle-office analysis, etc.).
• Flatter structures, bigger spans of control, more localized decision rights.
• “New way of working” theater: agile rituals scaled, reduced handoffs, outcome focus over process theater.
It’s the insurance/financial services version of what a lot of big companies are doing in 2025-2026 under AI pressure: retool the org so fewer humans can do more, faster, with better advisor and client experiences, while protecting the mutual’s core strengths (trusted advisors + comprehensive planning).
The vapid buzzwords are the usual McKinsey/consulting output: agile at scale, value streams, empowered squads, platform operating model, AI-augmented ways of working, etc. Same script, different client logo.
How many people get laid off?
Realistically, hundreds, not thousands, over 12-24 months — mostly through managed attrition + targeted reductions rather than one dramatic bloodbath. Here’s why:
• Corporate/home office headcount is roughly 7,500–8,500 full-time employees (Milwaukee/Franklin HQ + NY; advisors are mostly independent contractors and revenue generators, so they’re largely protected).
• These transformations usually target 15-25%+ productivity/efficiency gains in the areas being redesigned (ops, IT delivery, middle management layers, support functions, legacy process-heavy areas).
• Levers: GenAI/automation eating repetitive or rules-based work; delayering; consolidating duplicated roles across domains; reducing “coordination” and project management overhead as teams become more autonomous; some cultural attrition from people who hate the new pace.
Plausible range: 600–1,800 net reduction in corporate roles over the next couple of years (roughly 8-20% of home office staff), front-loaded in certain functions. Achieved via hiring freezes in targeted areas, voluntary packages, performance-based exits, and selective RIFs. Not a 30-50% tech-style cull.
NM is a conservative mutual company with a paternalistic streak and strong financials. They tend to do this stuff more surgically than public comps chasing quarterly optics. McKinsey programs almost always come with quantified “run-rate savings” targets that management then has to deliver — that’s usually where the headcount math shows up.
Bottom line / industry context
This is NM continuing to professionalize and modernize their operating system while the industry gets squeezed by AI, fintech/hybrid models, and advisor productivity demands. Rodent house was brought back in specifically to drive the business-architecture/operating-model piece after previous digital/transformation leaders.
You’re seeing the classic late-stage transformation pattern: new COO with transformation DNA + McKinsey + “new way of working” rebrand + efficiency narrative to fund tech/AI bets and improve margins/advisor leverage.
If you’re hearing this internally or from someone close to it, the real tells will be in the pilot domains they pick first (“lighthouses”) and what metrics they attach to “Forge” success. The headcount impact will show up quietly in attrition numbers and selective backfill decisions more than a big announced layoff.
Classic corporate move. The buzzwords are just the wrapping paper

Candid is experimenting with a new AI-based tool. This tool tracks nonprofit closures and layoffs in real time. The system reviews approximately 100 social-sector news articles daily. Early findings indicate closures outnumber layoffs roughly seven to one. Non-federal funding cuts are the most cited reason for distress.

https://candid.org/blogs/nonprofit-closures-layoffs-early-warning/

SAP SE is divvying up responsibilities for its product and engineering functions in its second top-level reorganization this year, people familiar with the matter said, as Europe’s largest software company grapples with staying ahead of rising artificial intelligence competition.

SAP has decided to split the responsibilities of Chief Product Officer Muhammad Alam among existing executives as Alam prepares to leave the company in March, rather than name a new CPO with those duties, the people said, asking to not be identified as the plan hasn’t yet been shared internally. Chief Executive Officer Christian Klein will take over most of Alam’s teams, while Chief Operating Officer Sebastian Steinhäuser will handle industrial AI, the people said.

A spokesman for SAP declined to comment.

Growing enterprise interest in AI tools from OpenAI and Anthropic PBC has put SAP and other traditional software firms under pressure to adapt. Klein is reorganizing the company to focus more resources on AI development, something he sees as key to the German enterprise software company’s survival.

It’s come alongside several executive board departures in the last few years, which have shifted reporting lines and responsibilities. In March, Klein gave another board member his sales responsibilities and took on greater oversight of AI strategy. He said in an email to employees at the time that “we once again need to transform SAP end to end, going all in on AI.”

SAP’s shares have declined about 35% this year.

Read more: SAP CEO Says AI Transition Will Require Short-Term Pain

The company is fending off criticism from some partners and customers that its early AI tools aren’t worth the expense, and others who say that they may look outside of SAP’s ecosystem for AI capabilities. In March, Klein pushed to expand access to AI tools to customers who hadn’t yet migrated their all of their legacy systems to the cloud, prioritizing the newer technology.

SAP will continue to search outside of the company for a new executive product lead, two of the people added. The company will target candidates in the US, its largest market, where Alam is the only executive board member, they said. Alam, who took the role leading SAP’s global product and engineering organization in 2024, also oversaw SAP’s software applications including product strategy and development. It’s unclear how the role will be structured under the new CPO.

Rolling out AI into servicenow when servicenow still has ongoing performance issues. Rolling out more and more rules and enforcing with a heavy hand when we don’t have enough associates to meet deadlines with the current rules.

British American Tobacco is undertaking a major workforce restructuring. Approximately 5,500 positions will be eliminated, and 3,500 roles moved to third-party providers. The company aims to reduce costs and improve profitability through AI and outsourcing. This overhaul responds to declining traditional tobacco sales and increasing regulations. BAT expects to generate £600 million in annual savings by 2028.

https://anz.peoplemattersglobal.com/news/strategic-hr/ai-driven-layoff-one-of-the-worlds-biggest-cigarette-makers-is-cutting-5500-jobs-50587

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) union spoke out against anticipated layoffs at Microsoft's Xbox division. CWA District 9 vice president Frank Arce confirmed expected job cuts. The union represents over 3,500 Microsoft employees. Microsoft has experienced multiple layoff events since 2022. Union members demand fair severance, internal placement, and protection against AI-driven job losses.

https://gamesbeat.com/cwa-represented-workers-at-xbox-criticize-microsoft-management-and-pending-layoffs/

Motley Fool Money recently warned investors about "AI washing." Companies may falsely attribute layoffs to artificial intelligence. Many job cuts stem from pandemic overhiring or reduced demand. Genuine AI transformation starts with a clear business problem. Investors must verify specific, measurable AI impacts in company reports.

https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/expert-warns-companies-ai-washing-160407514.html

Job reductions in the Bay Area tech sector are increasing in 2026. Over 10,000 tech positions have been eliminated this year. The current total greatly exceeds last year's figures. Economists connect these reductions to a wider industry change. Companies are prioritizing investments in artificial intelligence.

https://www.kalw.org/bay-area-news/2026-06-29/bay-area-tech-layoffs-top-10-000-this-year

The substack post below might be relevant to some of you

https://substack.com/@gregorojstersek/note/c-282587294

Simple playbook to make yourself valuable in the AI era:

1. Suggest/propose a new AI initiative
2. Implement it
3. Create a blog post about how you did it
4. Speak about it at a conference or meetup

Do this a couple times, and you'll build a great reputation.

Sitting here reading my job duties and how much of it as an IE is being replaced. I think the next roll of layoffs is going to be because positions like mine are being taken over by AI . I mean each couple of months I have less and less work due to it being automated . So, I think we are going to see this more and more throughout Texas Instruments but also probably the industry .I think this is where the next layoffs will be aimed

Oracle is the only major hyperscaler funding its AI buildout with massive debt and deeply negative cash flow (compared to cash-rich peers like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google) If backlog conversion stalls or financing terms tighten, the leverage introduces extreme risk

Ford Motor Company had to rehire hundreds of veteran human engineers after artificial intelligence and automated quality-control systems failed to match their expertise and resulted in design and manufacturing issues.

AI lacked human intuition and judgement.

Ford's AI Misstep
The Situation: Over the past few years, Ford aggressively leaned on AI and automation to handle vehicle design and quality checks.

The Failure:
Executives admitted that the automated systems lacked the nuanced, real-world judgment required to catch nuanced design weaknesses, leading to costly issues.

The Solution:
Ford brought back, hired, or promoted roughly 350 veteran ("gray beard") engineers. These human experts are tasked with mentoring younger employees, fixing the errors missed by machines, and retraining Ford's AI systems so they are actually useful.

https://nypost.com/2026/06/29/tech/ford-rehires-experienced-engineers-after-ai-misses-the-mark/?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=nypost&utm_medium=social

I’m an NCM on LTSS, which we know has always been considered a “money maker” for the company, but, on a serious note, what do we think our fate is? I know AI can’t completely do our jobs, but, I’m still very fearful.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgrkd41n2v9o

Cigna in a year regarding HIH and AI. But like Kumar Galhotra who is the DP Koka equivalent at Ford, they probably will be gone by then with their massive cash payouts.

Just got hit with two emails about two CU trainings that are "required to be completed" by October 27: Annual Ethics and Compliance Training and, naturally, Annual Security & AI Risk.

Read the room, Sarah. Read the room.

Given the recent push to AI.