A series of layoffs due to artificial intelligence (AI) have sparked controversy over “AI-washing” w..
https://www.mk.co.kr/en/it/11950130
Publish Date: 2026-02-01 23:24:00
Source Domain: www.mk.co.kr
50,000 people were fired last year for introducing AI.
The restructuring is called ‘AI innovation’
The actual change in the job market is still limited
사진 확대 Is it AI dismissal or AI excuse…Controversy over ‘AI washing’ [Picture = ChatGPT]
A series of layoffs due to artificial intelligence (AI) have sparked controversy over “AI-washing” whether companies’ cost-cutting logic is ahead of actual technological changes.
According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 1st (local time), more and more global companies are explaining manpower cuts by putting “AI introduction” at the forefront instead of sluggish performance or over-employment. According to a survey by employment consulting firm Challenger Gray & Christmas, more than 50,000 people mentioned AI in the announcement of layoffs in 2025.
Amazon can be cited as a representative example. Amazon recently announced that it will cut 16,000 more office workers. The move followed a 14,000 job cut last fall. CEO Andy Jassie mentioned in June last year that “the introduction of Generative AI and agents will change the way we work and reduce the total number of white-collar workers in the long run.” However, Amazon has since revised its explanation that the reduction of bureaucracy is the main reason, but the market is mainly interpreted as securing financial resources for AI infrastructure investment such as data centers.
Image-sharing platform Pinterest also said last month that it would reduce about 15% of its workforce, citing “resource relocation to AI-centered roles.” Hewlett-Packard (HP) also explained to investors that it could cut up to 6,000 jobs over the next few years in the process of incorporating AI into products and organizations as a whole.
There are also many skeptical views about this trend. Many companies that announced AI-related layoffs did not actually have AI applications mature enough to replace the workforce, market research firm…
