Overview

• Microsoft, IBM and Bumble are among tech and media firms cutting thousands of jobs and crediting AI-driven efficiency for the reductions.
• A June survey of 1,342 U.S. managers found 64% using AI tools in their daily work and 94% relying on them for decisions on promotions, raises and layoffs.
• Only one-third of managers using AI for personnel decisions have received formal ethical training, increasing the risk of biased or opaque outcomes.
• Industry voices are split on who faces the greatest automation threat, with some warning of mass displacement in entry-level roles and others cautioning against risks to tenured professionals.
• Policymakers and HR experts are calling for clear disclosure of AI’s role in staffing decisions and for investments in reskilling and redeployment to mitigate job losses.