Big Tech fired hundreds of thousands, then hired again — was AI really the reason?
TansuYegen · x · 2026-10-28
A long-form analysis challenges the narrative that AI-driven efficiency made mass layoffs inevitable. Big Tech firms like Alphabet (190,000 employees at end of 2022) cut hundreds of thousands of jobs while talking relentlessly about efficiency, only to rehire at scale afterward. The author argues the numbers don't support the 'AI replaces workers' story: the real drivers were money, corporate power, and control over who owns the future — with AI serving as a convenient cover narrative for capital markets.
Related event: Tech Firms Rehiring After Mass Layoffs Casts Doubt on AI Blame(2 posts)→
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