💼 AI as a Cover for Mass Layoffs
Tech giants Wix, Snap, Block, and Atlassian are increasingly using AI implementation as a justification for layoffs. MIT Professor Paul Osterman calls this "AI washing" — using AI as a convenient pretext for pre-planned restructuring.
🌍 Companies are using the AI trend to rebrand cost-cutting decisions, turning negative news about staffing into positive news about innovation.
👤 Layoffs may not be related to replacing people with algorithms, but rather to a business desire to transition to a model of using temporary workers.
Source 1: https://fortune.com/2026/05/31/tech-companies-ai-washing-layoffs-wix-block-snap-atlassian-disposable-workers/