Investor and economic concern about the labor-market consequences of artificial intelligence is intensifying. Goldman Sachs economists warned that faster AI adoption could push U.S. unemployment higher this year and documented job losses already occurring in industries most vulnerable to automation.
Goldman economists estimate that, in the most exposed U.S. industries last year, AI accounted for 5,000 to 10,000 monthly net job losses. The firm also calculated that AI-related factors represented about 7% of total planned layoffs in January.
Below is an alphabetical list of companies that have publicly announced layoffs they tie to AI-related restructuring, efficiency programs, or shifts in investment priorities, covering announcements from last October through the present.
- AGORA - The Polish media group said in December it planned to reduce its headcount by up to 166 employees, equal to about 6.56% of its workforce, as part of a restructuring intended to strengthen its digital operations.
- ALLIANZ - The German insurance group is reported to plan up to 1,800 job cuts within its travel insurance division as AI progressively replaces manual processes, according to a person familiar with the plans who spoke to Reuters in November.
- AMAZON - The technology giant confirmed on Jan. 28 that it would eliminate 16,000 corporate positions, and said it may implement further reductions as it pursues an overhaul focused on AI and efficiency.
- AUTODESK - On Jan. 22 the U.S. design-software maker announced it would cut roughly 7% of its global workforce, about 1,000 roles, while redirecting investment toward its cloud platform and AI initiatives.
- BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO - On Feb. 12 the company unveiled an AI-driven productivity programme expected to result in job reductions, though it did not specify the number of roles that may be affected.
- DOW - The U.S. chemical producer said on Jan. 29 it will eliminate about 4,500 jobs, roughly 13% of its total workforce, as it streamlines end-to-end work processes through automation and AI.
- HP INC - The U.S. computer and printer maker said in November it expects to cut between 4,000 and 6,000 jobs globally by fiscal 2028 as it streamlines operations and embraces AI.
- MERCADOLIBRE - The Brazilian e-commerce company laid off 119 employees as part of an AI-expansion effort, according to Folha de S. Paulo on Jan. 12.
- META - Bloomberg reported on Jan. 13 that Meta is cutting over 1,000 jobs at its Reality Labs unit as it shifts focus from the Metaverse toward AI devices. Separately, Meta said in October it would reduce about 600 positions from several thousand roles within its Superintelligence Labs.
- NIKE - The sportswear company is planning to lay off 775 employees, according to a source who spoke to Reuters in January, as the firm seeks to lift profits and speed the adoption of automation.
- PINTEREST - In January, the social-media platform announced plans to cut up to 15% of its workforce to reallocate resources toward AI-focused roles and strategy.
- SEB - The French small appliance and cookware maker said on Feb. 25 it will start a restructuring plan that aims to take "full advantage" of opportunities offered by AI, and that the plan could affect up to 2,100 jobs worldwide by 2027.
- TELSTRA - Australia’s largest telecommunications firm is reported to be planning a reduction of 650 roles in an AI-driven restructuring carried out with India’s Infosys, according to The Australian on Feb. 11.
- WISETECH - On Feb. 25 the Australian software provider said it would cut about 2,000 jobs, nearly one-third of its global staff, as it integrates AI into customer software and internal processes.
The announcements span multiple sectors - media, insurance, e-commerce, enterprise software, consumer goods, telecommunications, and industrials - and reflect companies' stated intentions to redirect spending toward AI and automation or to restructure operations in ways they say will benefit from AI tools.
Some firms provided specific headcount figures and timelines, while others described strategic programmes or unit-level pivots without quantifying potential job impacts. Goldman Sachs' monthly net-loss estimate and the 7% share of planned layoffs in January underscore that, in certain sectors, AI is already being cited as a material factor in workforce reductions.
Investors and policymakers monitoring labor markets and sectoral demand will be watching whether the pace of AI adoption prompts broader or deeper employment shifts as companies redeploy resources toward cloud platforms, automation, AI research, and product changes. The companies listed here collectively illustrate a range of approaches - from targeted unit cuts to multi-thousand-role global reductions - in which firms link restructuring to AI and efficiency priorities.