Overview

• The CEO said Klarna reduced headcount from about 7,400 to roughly 3,000 and has stopped recruiting after deploying AI across the business.
• He warned of near-term job displacement across knowledge roles, citing translators as an example that AI can largely handle today.
• Savings from lower payroll were redirected to accelerate pay for remaining staff, which he framed as a tangible benefit of internal AI use.
• Despite broad adoption, Klarna reports limited AI use in underwriting and hired additional customer service staff earlier in 2025 to ensure users can reach a human.
• Klarna listed on the New York Stock Exchange in September and reports around 111–114 million customers, as the Bank of England flags rising risk of an AI valuation bubble.