6 companies that have signaled they are replacing human employees with AI
The AI Workforce Shift: Companies Already Replacing Human Jobs
Concerns about artificial intelligence displacing human workers are no longer speculative—they're unfolding in real time. A recent MIT study estimates that AI can already perform the tasks of 11.7% of the U.S. labor force. Using a simulation tool called the Iceberg Index, researchers modeled 151 million workers to map where AI capabilities overlap with occupational skills.
As adoption accelerates, companies are increasingly transparent—and sometimes ambiguous—about AI's role in workforce reductions. While some explicitly cite AI as a driver of layoffs, others frame cuts around broader restructuring, leaving the technology's precise impact unclear.
Yet the picture isn't uniformly bleak. The World Economic Forum projects that while 41% of global companies may shrink their workforces due to AI over the next five years, demand for roles in big data, fintech, and AI development could double by 2030. The transition isn't just about elimination—it's also about transformation.
Below are companies that have publicly signaled or implemented AI-driven workforce changes.
### HP
HP is trimming its corporate workforce as part of an AI-focused strategy. In a November earnings report, the company announced plans to eliminate 4,000–6,000 positions by 2028, projecting approximately $1 billion in savings. Leadership described the approach as combining "workforce reductions, platform simplification, and productivity measures" with AI adoption to boost innovation and customer satisfaction.
### IBM
IBM CEO Arvind Krishna has been candid about AI's impact. In 2023, he told *The Wall Street Journal* that hundreds of HR roles had already been automated. He later suggested that up to 30% of back-office functions could be replaced by AI within five years. While the company announced layoffs affecting a "single-digit percentage" of its global workforce in late 2025, Krishna emphasized a parallel push to hire more talent in AI, quantum computing, programming, and sales—particularly among recent graduates.
### Amazon
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has acknowledged that AI-driven efficiencies will likely reduce headcount over time. However, the company has attributed its recent large-scale layoffs to cultural realignment rather than direct AI replacement. In internal memos, executives reiterated a goal to operate "like the world's largest startup," prioritizing speed and experimentation. Beth Galetti, SVP of People Experience and Technology, noted that AI's transformative potential necessitates a leaner structure—but stopped short of calling it the primary cause of cuts.
### Salesforce
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff revealed in August 2024 that AI agents had enabled a significant reduction in customer support staffing—from roughly 9,000 to 5,000 roles. A company spokesperson clarified that this shift followed a multi-month reorganization of its support function. After deploying its Agentforce platform, Salesforce ceased actively backfilling many support engineer roles, instead redeploying hundreds of employees into sales, professional services, and customer success.
### Klarna
Fintech firm Klarna has seen its workforce shrink from 7,000 in 2022 to about 3,000 today, with CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski projecting a drop below 2,000 by 2030. He attributes the decline to layoffs and "natural attrition"—not replacing employees who leave. While Siemiatkowski emphasized that roles centered on "human connection" will endure, he acknowledged most other functions will require fewer people. Klarna's AI assistant now handles work equivalent to 853 full-time support agents (up from 700 at launch), saving an estimated $58 million annually.
### Fiverr
Fiverr CEO Micha Kaufman announced a ~30% workforce reduction last September, affecting roughly 250 of its 762 full-time employees. He framed the move as essential to becoming a leaner, "AI-first company." In internal communications, Kaufman warned that "AI is coming for your jobs" and stated that future hires must demonstrate AI proficiency. "If you don't ensure that you sharpen your knives, you're going to be left behind," he said.
The Bigger Picture
These examples illustrate a complex transition: AI is displacing certain roles while creating demand for new skills. The challenge for workers and organizations alike isn't just adaptation—it's ensuring that the shift toward automation includes pathways for reskilling, redeployment, and equitable opportunity. As AI capabilities expand, the question may no longer be *if* jobs change, but *how* societies prepare for a workforce where human and artificial intelligence collaborate—or compete.