AI Becomes More Aggressive: 92,000 Tech Workers Laid Off Throughout 2026

Jakarta, VIVA – The wave of redundancies in the technology sector continues to expand throughout 2026. No longer just temporary efficiency measures, economists and industry experts now fear that the world of work is undergoing permanent change due to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). Data from Layoffs.fyi records more than 92,000 tech workers laid off so far this year. Even if calculated since 2020, the total number of workers who have lost jobs in the technology industry approaches 900,000 people. The latest wave of redundancies comes from several global tech giants. Meta and Microsoft are reported to be cutting more than 20,000 jobs combined. Meta is said to plan to cut around 8,000 workers while freezing recruitment for about 6,000 positions. Meanwhile, Microsoft is offering a voluntary redundancy programme to about 7 percent of its US employees. In addition, Nike is reducing around 1,400 positions, mostly from its technology division. Several other major companies such as Amazon, Google, Oracle, Salesforce, and Snap have also carried out redundancies in recent months. The majority of companies cite AI-based efficiency and over-recruitment during the pandemic as the main reasons for workforce reductions. Developments in generative AI technology such as OpenAI through ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude AI tool are seen as beginning to massively change the way companies operate. Company executives assess that AI is now capable of automating various business functions that previously required many human workers. “We are witnessing the beginning of a permanent transformation in the way work is organised and carried out across various industries,” said Anthony Tuggle, former AI leader and executive coach, as quoted from the Times of India, Tuesday, 12 May 2026. This situation has triggered great anxiety among tech workers. The Glassdoor Employee Confidence Index shows that confidence levels among tech sector workers fell 6.8 points to 47.2 percent in March 2026 compared to the previous year. Many workers are now choosing to stay in the office despite dissatisfaction because they fear it will be difficult to find new jobs. This condition instead makes companies more aggressive in conducting performance evaluations and redundancies. “Because natural employee reductions are not happening much, companies are becoming more aggressive in pushing people out of the company,” said Glassdoor Chief Economist Daniel Zhao.