AI cited in layoffs across 2023 to 2026

Between 2023 and 2026, corporate AI adoption moved in a synchronized wave across bans, approved enterprise tools, AI-first executive memos, and a subsequent surge in AI-attributed layoffs, particularly in the United States. While employers frequently cited artificial intelligence for workforce reductions, economic data and research suggest the technology accounted for only a small fraction of actual job cuts, with many firms engaging in AI-washing or following broader social contagion trends. Meanwhile, European restructuring followed different legal and market pathways, often prioritizing voluntary exits and collective consultations. Open article →