{"id":79685,"date":"2026-02-07T06:31:46","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T09:31:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tech.einnews.com\/article\/890259349"},"modified":"2026-02-07T06:31:46","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T09:31:46","slug":"one-question-is-haunting-laid-off-big-tech-workers-did-ai-just-cost-me-my-job","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/02\/07\/one-question-is-haunting-laid-off-big-tech-workers-did-ai-just-cost-me-my-job\/","title":{"rendered":"One question is haunting laid-off Big Tech workers: Did AI just cost me my job?"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"post-page-grid\">\n<section id=\"post-body\" class=\"post-body grid-area-post-body\" data-component-type=\"post-body\" data-load-strategy=\"exclude\" data-lock-content>\n<div class=\"post-hero\" data-component-type=\"post-hero\" data-load-strategy=\"exclude\">\n<figure class=\"figure image-figure-image as-notched\" data-type=\"img\" data-e2e-name=\"image-figure-image\" data-media-container=\"image\">\n<div class=\"aspect-ratio\" style=\"padding-top: calc(100% \/ (1920 \/ 1440))\">  <img data-opt-id=758893364  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/i.insider.com\/698662a4e1ba468a96ab9e5d?width=700&ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/i.insider.com\/698662a4e1ba468a96ab9e5d?width=700&ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/i.insider.com\/698662a4e1ba468a96ab9e5d?width=700&ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/i.insider.com\/698662a4e1ba468a96ab9e5d?width=700&ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/i.insider.com\/698662a4e1ba468a96ab9e5d?width=700&ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/i.insider.com\/698662a4e1ba468a96ab9e5d?width=700&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/i.insider.com\/698662a4e1ba468a96ab9e5d?width=700&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/i.insider.com\/698662a4e1ba468a96ab9e5d?width=700&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/i.insider.com\/698662a4e1ba468a96ab9e5d?width=700&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/i.insider.com\/698662a4e1ba468a96ab9e5d?width=700&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/i.insider.com\/698662a4e1ba468a96ab9e5d?width=700&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/i.insider.com\/698662a4e1ba468a96ab9e5d?width=700&ssl=1\" alt=\"Ian Carter (left), James Hwang (center), Joe Friend (right)\"> <\/div>\n<p> <span class=\"image-source-caption with-caption-drawer\"> <span class=\"image-source-caption-drawer\"><figcaption class=\"image-caption label-md-strong\" data-e2e-name=\"image-caption\"> <span class=\"image-caption-text\">Ian Carter (left), James Hwang (center), and Joe Friend (right) are among the laid-off workers who&#8217;ve questioned whether AI played a role in their job cuts.<\/span> <span class=\"image-source-text\"> <span class=\"image-source label-md g-test\" data-e2e-name=\"image-source\">Ian Carter (left), James Hwang (center), Joe Friend (right)<\/span> <\/span> <\/figcaption><\/span> <\/span><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"underline\">\n<div class=\"timestamp label-md\" data-component-type=\"timestamp\" data-load-strategy=\"exclude\"> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-summary-bullets\" data-component-type=\"post-summary-bullets\" data-load-strategy=\"exclude\" data-track-marfeel=\"post-summary-bullets\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"body-md\">Some laid-off workers are questioning whether AI played a role in their job losses.<\/li>\n<li class=\"body-md\">Hype around AI \u2014 and major corporate investments \u2014 has fueled concerns about long-term job security.<\/li>\n<li class=\"body-md\">While some have concluded AI isn&#8217;t taking their jobs just yet, others are actively building AI skills.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<section class=\"post-body-content post-story-body-content\" data-component-type=\"post-body-content\" data-load-strategy=\"exclude\" data-track-content data-post-type=\"story\" data-track-marfeel=\"post-body-content\">\n<p>When Kent Ha was laid off from his digital marketing role at Intel last July, he&#8217;d been mentally preparing for the possibility that his <a target=\"_self\" class href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/intel-layoff-job-search-struggling-find-work-tech-2025-10\" data-track-click=\"{&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;body_link&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;tout_click&quot;,&quot;index&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;product_field&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;}\" rel>job could be cut<\/a> \u2014 in part due to AI.<\/p>\n<p>Prior layoff rounds had left him concerned about his job security. Plus, earlier that year, Intel announced plans to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.oregonlive.com\/silicon-forest\/2025\/06\/intel-will-outsource-marketing-to-accenture-and-ai-laying-off-many-of-its-own-workers.html\" data-track-click=\"{&quot;click_type&quot;:&quot;other&quot;,&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;body_link&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;outbound_click&quot;}\" rel=\" nofollow\">outsource<\/a> much of his division&#8217;s work to Accenture, which it said would use AI to enhance its marketing efforts.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;That made it seem even more likely that our group would be hit,&#8221; said Ha, who&#8217;s in his 30s and based in Portland, Oregon.<\/p>\n<p>Over the past year, I&#8217;ve spoken with dozens of white-collar workers who had recently been laid off \u2014 and were left wondering why. Those who weren&#8217;t aware of any personal performance concerns pointed to a variety of possible explanations, including cost-cutting, the <a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/middle-managers-have-more-direct-reports-after-great-flattening-2026-1\" data-track-click=\"{&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;body_link&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;tout_click&quot;,&quot;index&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;product_field&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;}\" rel>Great Flattening<\/a>, and <a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/big-tech-job-market-hiring-cracked-layoffs-amazon-microsoft-2025-12\" data-track-click=\"{&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;body_link&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;tout_click&quot;,&quot;index&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;product_field&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;}\" rel>pandemic-era overhiring<\/a>. And one question came up over and over: Is AI to blame?<\/p>\n<p>As companies pour money into AI, it remains unclear if the <a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/will-ai-replace-take-over-create-jobs-debate-tech-leaders-2025-6\" data-track-click=\"{&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;body_link&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;tout_click&quot;,&quot;index&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;product_field&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;}\" rel>technology will replace jobs<\/a> \u2014 or create new ones. While some have signaled that <a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/list-companies-replacing-human-employees-with-ai-layoffs-workforce-reductions#hp-1\" data-track-click=\"{&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;body_link&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;tout_click&quot;,&quot;index&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;product_field&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;}\" rel>replacing human employees <\/a>is the goal, others haven&#8217;t been as clear. Instead, they&#8217;ve cut jobs while simultaneously <a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/ai-job-losses-spending-new-tech-meta-google-amazon-layoffs-2024-7\" data-track-click=\"{&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;body_link&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;tout_click&quot;,&quot;index&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;product_field&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;}\" rel>funding significant AI investments<\/a>, leaving workers to connect the dots.<\/p>\n<div class=\"dynamic-module\" data-component-type=\"dynamic-module\" data-load-strategy=\"lazy\" data-root-margin=\"200% 0px\">\n<div class=\"dynamic-module-components\" data-component-name=\"follow-author-inline-signup\" data-component-segment=\"anonymous-fly-by\">\n<div data-component-type=\"follow-author-inline-signup\" data-author=\"{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Jacob 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https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/i.insider.com\/6936e0f204d0f0a114f19381?width=168&format=jpeg&auto=webp&crop=1%3A1%2Csmart&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/i.insider.com\/6936e0f204d0f0a114f19381?width=168&format=jpeg&auto=webp&crop=1%3A1%2Csmart&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/i.insider.com\/6936e0f204d0f0a114f19381?width=168&format=jpeg&auto=webp&crop=1%3A1%2Csmart&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/i.insider.com\/6936e0f204d0f0a114f19381?width=168&format=jpeg&auto=webp&crop=1%3A1%2Csmart&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/i.insider.com\/6936e0f204d0f0a114f19381?width=168&format=jpeg&auto=webp&crop=1%3A1%2Csmart&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/i.insider.com\/6936e0f204d0f0a114f19381?width=168&format=jpeg&auto=webp&crop=1%3A1%2Csmart&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" class=\"no-script\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/i.insider.com\/6936e0f204d0f0a114f19381?width=168&format=jpeg&auto=webp&crop=1%3A1%2Csmart&ssl=1\">  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <span class=\"display-sm header\">Follow Jacob Zinkula<\/span> <\/div>\n<p class=\"body-sm-subtle body\"> Every time Jacob publishes a story, you\u2019ll get an alert straight to your inbox! <\/p>\n<p class=\"body-sm-subtle body-sm\"> Stay connected to Jacob and get more of their work as it publishes. <\/p>\n<div class=\"form-section\">  <button class=\"label-lg-strong submit-button\">Sign up<\/button> <\/p>\n<p class=\"error-message label-md-subtle d-none\">\n<p class=\"disclaimer label-sm-subtle\"> By clicking \u201cSign up\u201d, you agree to receive emails from Business Insider. In addition, you accept Insider&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/terms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Terms of Service<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/privacy-policy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Privacy Policy<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"dynamic-module-components\" data-component-name=\"newsletter-dynamic\" data-component-segment=\"anonymous-other\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-dynamic\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-track-view=\"{&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;inline_newsletter&quot;,&quot;product_field&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;subscription_experience&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;}\" data-component-type=\"newsletter-dynamic\" data-load-strategy=\"exclude\" data-element-name=\"inline_newsletter\" data-source=\"careersinlinesignup\" data-skeleton-name=\"generic-tout\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>US employers <a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/layoffs-this-year-1-million-most-since-pandemic-2025-12\" data-track-click=\"{&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;body_link&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;tout_click&quot;,&quot;index&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;product_field&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;}\" rel>cited AI<\/a> as responsible for nearly 55,000 planned layoffs last year, per Challenger \u2014 up from about 17,000 combined in the two years prior. As pressure mounts to <a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/tech-companies-employees-prove-productivity-rto-performance-reviews-ai-investments-2026-1\" data-track-click=\"{&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;body_link&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;tout_click&quot;,&quot;index&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;product_field&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;}\" rel>show returns on AI investments<\/a>, companies may respond by tightening performance standards \u2014 and ultimately, shedding the workers who can&#8217;t keep up.<\/p>\n<p>Still, most companies stop short of pointing the finger at AI. A Microsoft spokesperson previously told Business Insider the company was focused on reducing management layers and streamlining processes. Amazon also cited efficiency and culture as a reason for cuts.<\/p>\n<p>Regarding the layoffs that affected Ha, an Intel spokesperson said the company is &#8220;taking steps to become a leaner, faster and more efficient company.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The workers puzzling out AI&#8217;s role in their layoffs aren&#8217;t just trying to process the news \u2014 they want to better assess what they&#8217;re up against in <a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/job-market-find-work-employment-hiring-slowdown-careers-2025-12\" data-track-click=\"{&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;body_link&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;tout_click&quot;,&quot;index&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;product_field&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;}\" rel>today&#8217;s job market<\/a>. To thrive in an AI-driven future, they know they may need to learn new skills and explore new roles. They just want to know if the future they&#8217;ve been fearing has already arrived.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"callout-box headline-regular ignore-typography\">\n<p>Business Insider is speaking with workers who&#8217;ve found themselves at a corporate crossroads \u2014 whether due to a layoff, resignation, job search, or shifting workplace expectations.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Share your story<\/strong> by <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\" nofollow\" class href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSechTVqVWQve8iqYssNriCXdtwwdgGRixNNZpmslSKBQqIJ8g\/viewform?usp=header\" data-track-click=\"{&quot;click_type&quot;:&quot;other&quot;,&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;callout_box&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;outbound_click&quot;}\">filling out this form<\/a>, contacting this reporter via email at <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"mailto:jzinkula@businessinsider.com\" data-track-click=\"{&quot;click_type&quot;:&quot;other&quot;,&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;callout_box&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;outbound_click&quot;}\" rel=\" nofollow\">jzinkula@businessinsider.com<\/a>, or via Signal at jzinkula.29.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<h2 id=\"7e995e8c-a219-46ae-a2c4-e413dab5201f\" data-toc-id=\"7e995e8c-a219-46ae-a2c4-e413dab5201f\"><strong>AI&#8217;s impact is top of mind for workers navigating layoffs<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>When Joe Friend learned in May that he, along with thousands of others at Microsoft, had <a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/laid-off-microsoft-manager-shares-done-with-big-tech-job-2025-10\" data-track-click=\"{&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;body_link&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;tout_click&quot;,&quot;index&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;product_field&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;}\" rel>lost their jobs<\/a>, he &#8220;wasn&#8217;t entirely surprised by the layoffs,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I was surprised to get caught up in them.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Friend, who&#8217;s in his 60s and lives in Washington state, was a director of product management overseeing a team of nine. He said he saw speculation online that the layoffs were tied to productivity gains from Microsoft&#8217;s <a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/microsoft-ai-ceo-mustafa-suleyman-cost-hundred-billions-superintelligence-2025-12\" data-track-click=\"{&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;body_link&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;tout_click&quot;,&quot;index&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;product_field&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;}\" rel>AI investments<\/a> \u2014 that AI had effectively &#8220;eaten&#8221; people&#8217;s jobs. However, he said he hadn&#8217;t seen much evidence that AI was significantly boosting productivity \u2014 and suspects the cuts were more about freeing up money for those investments.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think these are cuts to offset the huge expenditures that are being made into the structure for AI,&#8221; he said. &#8220;So in that way, AI has eaten your job, but not in terms of AI creating productivity gains.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Ian Carter, another <a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/microsoft-layoff-job-hunt-struggles-pay-rent-tech-industry-2025-10\" data-track-click=\"{&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;body_link&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;tout_click&quot;,&quot;index&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;product_field&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;}\" rel>laid-off Microsoft worker<\/a>, also pointed to the company&#8217;s large investments in AI, as well as what he saw as overhiring during the pandemic. While pursuing roles similar to his former technical program manager position, he also began developing his AI skills \u2014 noting that job postings increasingly signaled demand for that expertise.<\/p>\n<p>Which jobs will be most vulnerable to AI takeover has been a topic of speculation for years. James Hwang, who <a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/laid-off-amazon-employees-share-what-happened-tech-job-market-2025-11\" data-track-click=\"{&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;body_link&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;tout_click&quot;,&quot;index&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;product_field&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;}\" rel>lost his Amazon job<\/a> in October, said he knew that his role \u2014 providing IT support for Amazon employees \u2014 could be at some risk of automation. Plus, last June, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said he expected <a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/amazon-ceo-says-generative-ai-expect-job-cuts-2025-6\" data-track-click=\"{&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;body_link&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;tout_click&quot;,&quot;index&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;product_field&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;}\" rel>AI-driven efficiency gains<\/a> would eventually lead to a smaller workforce.<\/p>\n<p>Still, while Hwang&#8217;s team had started using AI to help troubleshoot issues, he didn&#8217;t think the tech was there yet. He&#8217;s currently applying to similar IT support roles and hasn&#8217;t shifted his job search strategy in response to AI concerns.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Amazon is not at that stage yet where AI can do our job,&#8221; said Hwang, who&#8217;s in his 20s and lives in Michigan. &#8220;For us, AI is a tool, because there needs to be a human touch for support.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Friend and Hwang are among several laid-off workers who told Business Insider they believe AI&#8217;s role in their cuts had less to do with automating jobs and more to do with freeing up cash, in part to fund AI investments. But in the end, the financial impact is the same for those who lost their jobs. Going forward, Friend said he plans to be highly selective about his next role, as he believes job security is becoming harder to find in the tech industry.<\/p>\n<div class=\"call-out\" data-track-view=\"{&quot;subscription_experience&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;product_field&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;call_out&quot;}\" data-track-click-shared=\"{&quot;product_field&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;call_out&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;call_out_click&quot;}\">\n<div class=\"call-out-inner\">\n<h2 class=\"call-out-heading display-sm\">Read more about people who&#8217;ve found themselves at a corporate crossroads<\/h2>\n<div class=\"call-out-grid\">\n<div class=\"call-out-row\">\n<article class=\"call-out-item\">\n<div class=\"call-out-content\">\n<h3 class=\"call-out-title heading-xs\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/f1-visa-holder-lands-tmobile-tech-job-layoff-deadline-2026-1\" class=\"call-out-link not-content-link\" data-track-click=\"{&quot;index&quot;:1}\" rel> I had 90 days to find a job after getting laid off while on a work visa. A $50 book and a networking strategy helped me land my dream role. <\/a> <\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"call-out-separator\"><\/div>\n<article class=\"call-out-item\">\n<div class=\"call-out-content\">\n<h3 class=\"call-out-title heading-xs\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/google-employee-quit-tech-job-phd-grad-school-career-change-2026-1\" class=\"call-out-link not-content-link\" data-track-click=\"{&quot;index&quot;:2}\" rel> A millennial quit a 6-figure job at Google to pursue more meaningful work: &#8216;I wanted more out of my career and my life.&#8217; <\/a> <\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article><\/div>\n<div class=\"call-out-row\">\n<article class=\"call-out-item\">\n<div class=\"call-out-content\">\n<h3 class=\"call-out-title heading-xs\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/laid-off-amazon-employees-share-what-happened-tech-job-market-2025-11\" class=\"call-out-link not-content-link\" data-track-click=\"{&quot;index&quot;:3}\" rel> How laid-off Amazon workers are coping with the shock and planning their next career moves <\/a> <\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"call-out-separator\"><\/div>\n<article class=\"call-out-item\">\n<div class=\"call-out-content\">\n<h3 class=\"call-out-title heading-xs\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/microsoft-layoffs-workers-say-job-security-dead-2025-11\" class=\"call-out-link not-content-link\" data-track-click=\"{&quot;index&quot;:4}\" rel> They got laid off from the Microsoft country club and dumped into a brutal job market <\/a> <\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"860c412f-cfcd-483b-81ab-481ea469216e\" data-toc-id=\"860c412f-cfcd-483b-81ab-481ea469216e\"><strong>Whether AI took their job or the budget, it may be time for a career reinvention<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Laid-off workers who wonder whether AI played a role in their job loss may never get a clear answer.<\/p>\n<p>A company&#8217;s decision to conduct layoffs is often shaped by a mix of factors \u2014 from financial pressures to shifting priorities. And even when leadership offers an explanation for the cuts, it may reflect only part of the story \u2014 shaped as much by messaging strategy as by internal reasoning.<\/p>\n<p>Ninety percent of analysts surveyed recently by Goldman Sachs said AI hadn&#8217;t yet affected employment levels at the companies they cover \u2014 but 60% expected it to drive lower employment over the next five years.<\/p>\n<p>Amid this uncertainty, some laid-off workers have decided to build AI skills to prepare for the evolving job market.<\/p>\n<p>In his prior role in product at a software development company, Lee Givens Jr. saw colleagues leave for firms eager to shell out big salaries for AI talent. So when was laid off in 2023, he began thinking about how to better position himself in a tech industry that had clearly shifted toward AI.<\/p>\n<p>Givens Jr. decided to <a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/microsoft-meta-apple-employee-struggled-find-tech-job-2025-12\" data-track-click=\"{&quot;element_name&quot;:&quot;body_link&quot;,&quot;event&quot;:&quot;tout_click&quot;,&quot;index&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;,&quot;product_field&quot;:&quot;bi_value_unassigned&quot;}\" rel>study AI frameworks<\/a> relevant to his field, hoping it would make him a more attractive candidate. He said he believes that investment paid off, helping him later land a staff product manager role at a Toyota subsidiary, where he&#8217;s now putting his AI knowledge to work.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;When there&#8217;s a major technological shift \u2014 like the rise of the internet or AI \u2014 you have to reinvent yourself,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<p> <!-- Included desktop \"post-aside\" --> <\/p>\n<section class=\"post-aside grid-area-post-aside\" data-component-type=\"post-aside\" data-load-strategy=\"exclude\">\n<aside class=\"rail with-default-image has-video-ad \" id=\"l-rightrail\" data-component-type=\"rail\">\n<section data-rail data-track-page-area=\"RR\" class>\n<div class=\"rail-container container-0\"> <\/div>\n<div class=\"rail-container video-ad-container\">\n<div class=\"post-recommended-video\" data-component-type=\"post-recommended-video\" data-load-strategy=\"exclude\">\n<h3 class=\"header display-xs\">Recommended video<\/h3>\n<div id=\"jw-strategy-player\" class=\"ad psuedo-ad\" data-bi-ad>\n<div id=\"player-container-XqOVG7Ek\" data-component-type=\"jw-strategy-video\" data-placement=\"XqOVG7Ek\" class=\"jw-strategy-video\" data-rid=\"5132356062\" data-id=\"k5eHjRB6\" data-name=\"undefined\" data-title=\"Sam Altman explains why AI will replace 40% of your work\" data-timestamp=\"undefined\" data-autoplay=\"true\" data-mute=\"true\" data-pub-id=\"5046\" data-slot-id=\"video-preroll-1\" data-player-url=\"https:\/\/cdn.jwplayer.com\/libraries\/P0a1LFN5.js\" data-region=\"pre-roll-rail\" data-ad-unit-path=\"4442842\/businessinsider.desktop\/post\/pre-roll-rail\/strategy\" data-pre-roll=\"true\" data-is-override=\"true\" data-thumbnail=\"[object Object]\" data-placementid=\"XqOVG7Ek\" data-reactions=\"undefined\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"rail-container\"> <\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"post-bottom grid-area-post-bottom\" data-component-type=\"post-bottom\" data-load-strategy=\"exclude\" data-track-marfeel=\"post-bottom\">\n<section class=\"post-bottom-ad-container\"> <\/section>\n<section class=\"post-bottom-taboola\" data-track-page-area=\"Post Bottom\"> <!-- Included desktop \"taboola\" -->  <\/p>\n<section class=\"taboola-container targeted-recommended only-desktop taboola-below-main-column\" id=\"taboola-below-main-column\" data-e2e-name=\"taboola-below-main-column\" data-track-event-label=\"rec-taboola-taboola-below-main-column\"> <\/section>\n<p>  <!-- Excluded mobile \"taboola\" --><\/section>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"pw-modal-entry\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"pw-modal-backdrop\"><\/div>\n<div data-component-type=\"paywall\" data-load-strategy=\"exclude\" data-content-selector=\"[data-content-container]\"> <\/div>\n<div class=\"col-12\"> <\/div>\n<p>  .component.back-to-home.style-loading { display: none; }  <\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\"> <\/a><\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\/acceptable.html\"> <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8230; , it remains unclear if the <span class=\"match\">technology<\/span> will replace jobs \u00e2\u0080\u0094 or create &#8230; didn&#039;t think the <span class=\"match\">tech<\/span> was there yet. He&#8230; harder to find in the <span class=\"match\">tech<\/span> industry. Read more about people &#8230; better position himself in a <span class=\"match\">tech<\/span> industry that had clearly shifted &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-79685","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","wpcat-1-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79685","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=79685"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79685\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=79685"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=79685"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=79685"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}