Y’know how we once thought AI was just going to make our jobs easier? Plot twist: some companies are using it as the ultimate excuse to hand out pink slips. And y'all, the receipts aren't adding up.
Welcome to the era of "AI-washing"—where the robots get blamed for layoffs, but they aren't actually the ones doing the work. (Awkward.)
We’re calling this the great Corporate bluff
According to Tech buzz, AI was cited as the primary driver behind 50,000+ layoffs in 2025.
Amazon axed 16,000 positions.
Pinterest slashed 15% of its workforce (roughly 780 people).
The Narrative: CEOs were screaming "AI revolution!" in every earnings call like it was a get-out-of-jail-free card for their stock prices. And surprisingly, the narrative did work wonders.
But then Forrester dropped a research bombshell in January that basically called everyone’s bluff. Their findings? Most of these companies don't actually have AI sophisticated enough to do those jobs yet. Let that sink in: They fired the humans before the robots were even out of beta. If you ask me, it’s honestly like selling your car because you heard "teleportation is coming soon".
So Why The Lie?
Because telling investors you’re cutting jobs for AI is "very investor-friendly," says Molly Kinder from the Brookings Institute.
According to her, it makes a company sound innovative and forward-thinking. It’s basically a much sexier headline than admitting they totally overhired during the pandemic, the business model is kind of a mess, or the stock price is tanking (Harder to put that on a PowerPoint slide, y'know)
So What’s Actually Happening?
Forrester predicts that over 50% of these so-called "AI-driven" layoffs will be quietly reversed once companies realize they actually still need humans to function. The catch? Those workers might get rehired at lower salaries or as offshore contractors. So ultimately, it’s just corporate America doing corporate America things, y’all.
Also: AI is expected to augment 20% of jobs within five years, making investing in employee training and upskilling become essential for long-term competitiveness.
The Silver Lining: Despite the doom-scrolling headlines, Forrester forecasts AI will only account for about 6% of total US job losses by 2030 (that’s 10.4 million roles). Now that's significant, but it’s nowhere near the robot apocalypse the headlines suggest.
Who’s actually at risk? Junior roles, software devs, and customer service—basically places where the automation is actually, y'know, real.
The Pinterest Approach: Well Pinterest is being “transparent”, stating they’re cutting roles specifically to fund new AI-focused positions and strategies. At least they aren't pretending the chatbot already did the work. Still… is this actually about investing in AI, or just corporate America’s favorite new excuse for classic cost-cutting? Jury’s out.
The Bottom Line:
Next time a company says a chatbot is replacing a whole department, ask to see the chatbot. Chances are, it doesn't exist yet, and the "AI" is just three managers in a trench coat trying to save the quarterly earnings.
You can get the full details here.
