#automation

AI and globalization and robotics ARE having and continue to be our biggest threat collectively. So this is a blip on what’s coming down the Pike.

Freshworks is reducing its global workforce by approximately 500 employees. This represents about 11 percent of its total staff. The company attributes these layoffs to an AI-focused restructuring strategy. CEO Dennis Woodside stated that over half of Freshworks’ code is now written by AI. This automation has reduced repetitive work across various functions.

https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/freshworks-layoffs-over-half-of-our-code-is-written-by-ai-says-ceo-as-firm-cuts-500-jobs-97275.htm

Erased due to AI. Although I call bullsh-t. It's not AI. They just want to get rid of as many of us as they can and they're using the latest available excuse. AI creates more work than it saves. I know, I've been dealing with its mistakes for a while now. If AI is really the reason, then this place will go under sooner than anybody thinks.

The Q1 2026 results strengthen the case that leadership will keep pushing productivity, automation, AI, severance, consolidation and expense control. The company is not in existential danger based on results but the numbers are weak enough that employees should assume continued restructuring risk. I wouldn't interpret this as a reason to panic yet.

AI and automation are leading to job reductions in El Paso. HGS Solutions recently laid off 92 workers at its El Paso facility. These job cuts mainly impact customer service and back office positions.

El Paso

https://hoodline.com/2026/05/ai-layoffs-gut-el-paso-paychecks-as-oscars-draw-line-on-robot-scripts/

Many of the conversations here focus on RTO, offshoring and site closures. Personally, I think those issues are small compared with what the firm is contemplating with AI adoption — but there’s hardly any discussion about it in this forum.

What have you noticed in your own team? Are you seeing “digital employees” doing meaningful work? Have vacancies been closed with AI cited as a reason? Have contractors or staff been let go with AI mentioned as a factor?

I’ve heard this is already happening in the engineering organisation, with the “fisherman lady” setting rather ambitious targets

https://share.google/LYK6ISUIlNC03i0a8

Cognizant Technology Solutions plans to cut approximately 4,000 jobs. This represents about one percent of its global workforce. The company is shifting towards automation and artificial intelligence. It also launched Project Leap to invest in AI and digital capabilities. This marks the second round of layoffs under CEO S Ravi Kumar.

https://www.cnbctv18.com/education/cognizant-plans-4000-job-cuts-amid-ai-push-launches-project-leap-ws-l-19896374.htm

#AI-mad Verizon to continue with cuts after CEO's jobs warning
Verizon CEO Dan Schulman has now completed the 13,000 layoffs he promised last November, but more could lie ahead. [ Lightreading 📰].

Iain Morris,International Editor,Light Reading — April 30, 2026

Company bosses occasionally praise their employees in public and note the importance of talent. That doesn't quite ring true when they are cutting thousands of jobs, as many are, which might partly explain why lauding AI is now much more fashionable. Attributing job cuts to the solid efforts of the new AI recruit, which bosses have anthropomorphized by saying it is an "agent" or does "reasoning," is even trendier.

It's quite a turnaround from a few years ago, when linking #automation, let alone AI, to job losses was as taboo as nudity in the workplace. No, no, managers frowned, new tech will merely liberate workers from drudgery and provide time for more satisfying pursuits. This was obviously before generative #AI (GenAI) threatened to liberate content creators from creating content so they could spend more time cleaning laptop screens or making tea – until GenAI turned out to be a duff substitute prone to mendacity.

Regardless, investors, if not employees, like the sound of a super-lean and highly profitable company run by AI rather than people. Fearful of missing out on a new tech bonanza, authorities have stopped worrying about the risks and jumped. Suddenly, the hallucinating software developed by a strange cult of effective altruists is being foisted on the world's population by governments and companies of all types. No longer taboo, the linkage between #AI and #joblessness has been normalized in that process.

Into this maelstrom stepped Dan Schulman on October 6 last year, when he was appointed CEO of Verizon, one of the biggest telecom operators in the US (and, therefore, the world). It has been a major US employer, with more than 180,000 members of staff back in 2012. Yet by the time Schulman joined, just 100,000 were left after multiple rounds of restructuring and #layoffs.

Schulman's Verizon shrank even more rapidly during his first three months in charge and already seems to feature more agents than The Matrix. It's "where we have agent-building capabilities," was how he described part of Verizon's AI tech stack to equity analysts on the company's earnings call this week. Another layer "is where we deploy agents," he continued. The cost cutting looks set to go on.

'Never send a human to do a machine's job'

In the last decade, most of the job losses at #Verizon have had very little to do with AI and almost nothing to do with its generative version, which did not even exist until around three-and-a-half years ago, when the company was already down to fewer than 120,000 employees. Even so, another 30,000 had disappeared by the end of last year, including about 10,000 since Schulman took over. In November, he had warned staff of plans to cut 13,000 jobs. All those now seem to have been cut. "We're running leaner with the 13,000 reduction behind us," said Tony Skiadas, Verizon's CFO, on the earnings call.

https://www.lightreading.com/ai-machine-learning/ai-mad-verizon-to-continue-with-cuts-after-ceo-s-jobs-warning

Recently heard from automation lead at CNRL that they are going to buy Kearl.

Does anyone have some information?

We just heard that AI was used to generate an embedded software application that was previously written by a team of 10 software engineers. It took the team 8 months to create the embedded software.

AI completed the task in 22.6 hours. There was a 4.3% error rate that required manual correction. AI is getting better though...

Layoffs are coming especially for anyone that writes software by hand.

Former Meta executive Clara Shih launched a nonprofit organization to help Gen Z navigate AI-driven job disruption, offering tools to match skills with careers as automation reshapes entry-level roles and shifts workforce expectations toward AI adaptability.

https://www.analyticsinsight.net/news/this-former-meta-exec-builds-a-nonprofit-platform-to-help-gen-z-find-jobs-amid-layoffs

Every week I use Gemini to create my weekly report for my boss. They use Gemini to read it. They then use Gemini to extract the highlights of my Gemini generated report along with the highlights of my peers to send another Gemini generated report to their VP. Is anybody actually reading or understanding anything anymore?

Meta just offered a glimpse at what it thinks the future of work looks like: training and supervising artificial-intelligence systems to do what used to be your job. And that’s if you still have a job at all.

The social-media company has been unusually aggressive, even by the standards of Silicon Valley, at pushing to incorporate AI into its employees’ workflows and using it to streamline and accelerate its operations. https://on.wsj.com/4sY3ovU

Already this year, it has started grading employees in performance reviews on their AI use; created ultra flat teams with almost no managers; and begun to develop a so-called CEO agent to assist Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg in performing his job.

On Thursday, the company said it planned to lay off 10% of its workforce, or about 8,000 people, on May 20.

Earlier in the week, an internal memo notified employees of a new software tool that would record their keystrokes, mouse movements and click locations to teach “the next generation of our AI models to use computers.”

It is all part of the tech company’s plans to become “AI native” and transform the way its teams and employees do their jobs as it seeks to spend up to $135 billion on AI infrastructure this year and build what it calls personal superintelligence for its 3.5 billion daily users.

The moves have left some staff filled with anxiety and wondering: Am I helping automate my own job away?

https://on.wsj.com/4sY3ovU

I accomplished something today in about 20 minutes with my manager using Copilot a project that would have taken the India team 11 hours to accomplish. 1 hour to explain. 6 hours to read the document and do the work. Another hour to re-explain what I wanted because they did it wrong, and then another 3 hours to finish the project.

The co-pilot answer was structured, tabular, concise, without excessive use of passive voice that makes my brain hurt.

Definitely the future

Is there any good reason to have Cresta installed? We were forced to download it this week. Most of the time it’s in my way and the conversation summaries are not accurate. I don’t see much use for that application other than it probably training AI to take our jobs. Another failed use of Schwab trying to force AI into the business.

Can AI fix walgreens systems without a human?

:) No!

To layoff TAC engineer, Sherlock is created few years ago to take case. Until now more and more cases should be touched by Sherlock first. He even can't handle an RMA case and can't understand customer's problem description.

What a stupid guy, he brings too much troubles for TAC engineer and now there is an "overwatcher" process to help train Sherlock.

TAC help Sherlock to layoff TAC??? What a stupid company!!! Customers are willing to buy stupid Cisco products and services? ridiculous

Many U.S. companies, including several in California, announced layoffs this week. These job cuts span various industries like technology, finance, and healthcare. Companies such as Lucid Group, C3.ai, and Wells Fargo are among those affected. The reductions reflect restructuring efforts and cost-cutting measures. Automation and artificial intelligence also contribute to these workforce changes.

https://patch.com/california/across-ca/thousands-layoffs-announced-ca-companies

Is it actually causing layoffs? Is it really being used productively anywhere? I'm not talking about CoPilot, but rather focused projects with a specific purpose. Would be interested in hearing from people involved with or affected by such endeavors, rather than the usual PR fluff that gets spewed by leadership.

BNY Mellon’s shift toward AI, digital workers, and platform‑based operations is reshaping job families across the bank. Roles built on repetitive processing, documentation, reconciliations, onboarding, KYC refresh, and basic QA are being automated or moved to lower‑cost hubs. As the company expands its agentic‑AI model—where one employee supervises dozens of autonomous agents—traditional career paths in operations and service centers will continue to narrow.

Employees can protect their careers by moving toward the work AI cannot easily replace. The most resilient paths include:

- AI governance, model oversight, and risk controls

- Exception handling and complex client‑service roles

- Data quality, lineage, and supervisory functions

- Platform product management and workflow design

BNY Mellon is also training thousands of employees to build and manage AI agents. Learning these tools—prompting, workflow orchestration, and agent supervision—positions employees for the emerging “human‑in‑the‑loop” roles that will grow as automation expands.

The most vulnerable job families are those tied to manual processing, standardized workflows, and mid‑skill operational tasks. Over time, many of these roles will consolidate or disappear entirely.

The strongest strategy is to pivot early: build AI‑adjacent skills, move toward analytical or client‑facing work, and position yourself where judgment, escalation, and oversight—not repetition—define the role. Learning to become a carpenter or electrician are also attractive options.

Cardamom restaurant laid off its front-of-house staff. Workers received an email about the layoffs a week ago. The restaurant will now use QR codes. This change eliminates the need for certain staff positions. Former employees are now picketing in response.

https://www.kare11.com/video/news/local/former-cardamom-workers-picket-after-sudden-layoffs/89-fb59e034-34c6-47d7-a1b1-1b787438ebc3

BNY employees increasingly describe changes that align with the AI‑driven cost‑reduction strategies McKinsey promotes to large financial institutions.

The most visible shift we see is the steady automation of repetitive, rules‑based work that RV brags about in the media — onboarding, KYC refresh, reconciliations, service requests, and exception routing. Employees report that tasks once handled by full teams are now processed through AI‑enabled workflows, reducing the need for manual roles and shrinking job families.

Decision‑support AI is also reshaping middle‑skill positions. Workers note fewer analyst roles, broader spans of control, and more “AI‑assisted” oversight, which mirrors McKinsey’s recommendation to streamline mid‑tier functions by embedding intelligence into platforms rather than people.

The Platform Operating Model (P-O-M) accelerates this transition. Employees describe work being standardized, centralized, and moved offshore once AI reduces the skill threshold required. This matches McKinsey’s model: automate first, relocate second.

The impact on employees is becoming clearer. Career paths in legacy operations, service, and processing roles are narrowing as automation absorbs institutional knowledge and reduces the value of tenure. Job security is declining in functions where work can be digitized, offshored, or both. New roles are emerging in AI governance, data quality, and exception management — but not in volumes that offset reductions.

Employee reports consistently reflect the same conclusion: AI is not just a tool at BNY; it is a restructuring engine.

Morrisons plans to cut approximately 200 roles at its Bradford head office. These reductions will affect positions across marketing, commercial, and technical teams. The layoffs are part of a multi-year transformation strategy. This initiative focuses on accelerating AI adoption and automation within the business. Morrisons aims to strengthen central functions and improve efficiency in challenging market conditions.

Bradford, UK

https://www.thestreet.com/employment/127-year-old-retailer-confirms-more-cuts-in-2026-morrisons

Ninety-five jobs were eliminated by Snap. These cuts occurred in Washington state. The company implemented broader layoffs. Snap seeks to increase automation. This strategy emphasizes AI-driven operational efficiency.

https://letsdatascience.com/news/snap-cuts-95-washington-state-jobs-for-ai-efficiency-72fad0d2

"Hey everyone! We're gonna outsource to India and automate using AI! How does that sound! Rah rah!"
(su-kers cheer)

If you can imagine Gen AI doing your job, you need to be looking for a new job because you can bet your bottom dollar it's only a matter of time (and not that much time) before you are replaced.

Think before you use AI at hcsc. Dont help train an AI to take your job away. You dont need it! They are coming for any job Thats repetitive or low level at first. You think this huge move to remotely work is in your best interest? Think again. Use your head, ot AI.

How hard they are trying to find people to get rid of. Multiple ways of tracking the same work, how often you're moving the mouse, clicking, and typing. Whether your work can be replaced by a push-button workflow.

Capitalism is showing just how ruthless it truly is.

Once certian projects are finished they will lay off the rest of that department and let L T I take over. Congrulations on working yourself out of a job. HR will mostly be replaced by a computer. Get used to talking to a machine. Middle management will be gutted. They won't be needed since LTI has their own management in place.

Projects will be downsized further and support groups dismantled and/or gone.

Operations you aren't safe. They are looking at you.

Anyone who is of retirement age will be next. If you have several complaints in your file you will also be gone. There won't be anyone left at cpchem except for a few in corporate. You are a number, remeber that. They don't care. They never did.

A few people from India product, US sales, rich media and US cx were let go today. Amidst what they call content transformation automation restructuring

Citi is saving 100,000 hours per week in the KYC area after implementing AI technology. Approximately 2,500 FTEs will be impacted.

Article....

https://futurism.com/future-society/ai-enterprise-workers-survey

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I have been here close to 5 years but I feel like my team is on the chopping block and being automated. Some People are getting moved to other teams and red badges let go.
I think eventually blue badges will be let go a couple at a time. Does anyone know if severance is provided for small cuts like one or two people or is severance only for the big LR's that get anounced for a large percent??

AI has been a really really hot topic at the company in the last month. Obviously it’s been a hot topic at the org for a few years now but they seem to really be pushing it extra hard the last month. Got word we are now in a hiring freeze of sorts and any role looking for backfills will now be reevaluated on if AI can take the place of that role. Are we headed towards another big layoff due to “automation” in the next few months? Been saving extra hard lately for fear of not having a job soon. Anyone hear of anything about layoffs soon?

With the corporate split, two major parts of HON that have high barriers to entry are now their own companies. It seems all Automation wants to talk about is software, AI, software, AI, software, AI, which any startup can also sell in. Is the “innovating by powerpoint” finally going to come home to roost, no longer able to hide in the conglomerate?

Tech companies cut nearly 79,000 jobs in early 2026. Oracle eliminated over 25,000 roles, and Amazon cut 16,000 positions. Many cuts are linked to AI adoption or automation-driven restructuring. Despite layoffs, companies still compete intensely for skilled talent. Hiring processes are becoming longer and more intentional for quality candidates.

https://hrexecutive.com/79000-tech-jobs-cut-but-the-talent-war-isnt-over/

Training the Ai

Cyber LOB is going through a major shift the long-term plan for this is to have stateside executives using AI agents to manage everything in automation by the end of the year they plan on having the Cyber LOB be around 41% India staff and under 20% American staff.
For those who have not looked at the CISO LinkedIn page and his executive subordinates then you should know that they haven't fulfilled a position like the ones they are fulfilling now ever in their career let alone for a long period of time what they are good at is producing positive data analytic numbers which is what the CIO Wants.
It's a tough market all around but the executives are looking to generate their own wealth on your backs as they put you out of a job this is why they want everything automation and everything AI because they want to push the buttons to solve the problems and remove you as the middleman.
The reality is you have two choices you can start looking for another job now and hopefully find something that allows you to leave on your terms or you can continue working and hope that they keep you but in doing so you will continuously be psychologically and emotionally abused and groomed to be their push button monkeys who has no real value or thought to the real world.

The unescapable fact is that under the leadership of the CISO the entire CS LOB will have its American workforce drastically dropped by the end of this year thus following the same corporate trends that other tech companies have been doing.

You losing your job is what's going to give the CIO and others bigger paychecks and that's what it's all about it's always been what it's about so continue working those 60 plus hours breaking your back losing your family and your health being psychologically and emotionally abused by your managers in doing so thinking you're going to matter, come Tuesday in the not so distant future you will be laid off if not fired... Not because the color of your skin or because of your performance or anything like that but because you are an American and because Americans cost too much corporations like Wells Fargo are not feeling like you're worth investing in so make sure that you leave on your turns and not theirs

Based on the economic climate and large loss of sales / nobody is buying / nobody can afford our products. Plant closures are next in the manufacturing side. Consolidation of manufacturing 1 plant per state excluding Texas, California, and Florida. If volume ever comes back they will just buy cheap land in the middle of nowhere and make it 1NA plant as this has been the plan for over a year now. For those who don’t know what 1NA is, it’s 1 North America which is Gatorade, Frito Lay, and Pepsi Beverages in the same building either warehouse or manufacturing doesn’t matter the setup. It uses 3PL which is 3rd party logistics meaning frontline employees aren’t even PepsiCo employees. Also 1NA plants are fully automated so estimated reduction of employees by 80%.