A wave of viral TikTok videos, some amassing over 2 million views, shows workers claiming they were fired via AI-generated avatars during video calls. These clips echo earlier viral videos of remote layoffs by human HR representatives over Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic, fueling debates about the future of employee terminations.
However, experts who spoke to MarketWatch and reviewed these videos question their authenticity, suggesting they may be staged for attention. AI industry sources noted no evidence of companies using AI-generated videos to fire employees, and the TikTok accounts posting these videos did not respond to MarketWatch’s requests for comment.
Even if these videos are fake, their millions of views highlight growing public interest and unease about AI’s potential role in layoffs. Comments on the videos, such as “so disrespectful,” “dystopian,” and “like a Black Mirror episode,” reflect fears about this possible future.
While AI isn’t currently used to deliver termination notices via video, experts suggest it could happen. Amy Dufrane, CEO of HRCI, a human-resources career-building organization, told MarketWatch that AI is already informally used to decide who to hire, fire, or interview, and its role may become more formalized. Some companies have shifted termination duties from managers to HR representatives or even outsourced consultants, and AI could eventually replace human HR in these roles if cost savings justify it.
“Corporations are already using HR departments for terminations, often with unfamiliar individuals delivering the news and severing ties abruptly,” said Jesse Glass, lead AI researcher at DecideAI, a company specializing in large language models.
A ResumeBuilder survey found that 60% of managers use AI to make decisions about employees, including raises (78%), promotions (77%), layoffs (66%), and terminations (64%), often through automated performance tracking or language models. A 2023 Washington Post survey of 300 U.S. HR leaders also showed 98% expected software and algorithms to assist with layoff decisions that year.
AI’s role in hiring is already widespread, with 88% of companies using it for candidate screening, per the World Economic Forum. AI-driven processes, like resume scanning or video assessments, streamline hiring by narrowing candidate pools, and WEF data suggest AI-screened candidates often perform better in later human interviews.
“Technology frees HR professionals from routine tasks, letting them focus on strategic priorities,” said Abby Knowles of SHRM, a human-resources trade association.
Looking ahead, some experts believe companies may experiment with AI for terminations, but caution against it. “Large organizations often test cost-cutting measures,” said Andrew Hiesinger, CEO of Quant Data. “But using AI for firings could save time short-term while damaging a company’s reputation long-term.”