Digital Event Horizon
HP Inc. plans to lay off between 4,000 to 6,000 employees as part of its efforts to deploy AI technology, with CEO Enrique Lores citing the need for cost savings. However, some experts question whether AI is solely responsible for these job cuts, and instead argue that it may be a scapegoat for broader business decisions.
HP Inc. plans to lay off between 4,000 to 6,000 employees in favor of ramping up AI use. The layoffs will primarily affect product development, internal operations, and customer support teams. Some experts question the extent to which AI is responsible for corporate job cuts. Several tech giants have announced significant job cuts in recent times, attributing them to AI adoption. Technology firms have announced 141,159 job cuts since last year, sparking concerns about AI's impact on the workforce.
In a move that has sparked concerns among workers and experts alike, HP Inc. has announced plans to lay off between 4,000 to 6,000 employees in favor of ramping up its use of artificial intelligence (AI). The company claims that this shift will help save $1 billion in annualized gross run rate by the end of its fiscal year 2028.
According to HP CEO Enrique Lores, the layoffs will primarily affect product development, internal operations, and customer support teams. However, it is worth noting that the extent of AI's impact on these job cuts has been questioned by some experts, who argue that there is limited evidence to support the notion that AI is solely responsible for corporate layoff announcements.
The trend of tech companies using AI as a scapegoat for layoffs is not new. Several prominent tech giants, including Salesforce, Amazon, Intuit, Klarna, and Duolingo, have all announced significant job cuts in recent times, with some attributing these decisions to the adoption of generative AI tools. This raises important questions about the role of AI in shaping our workforce and the long-term implications for employees whose jobs are being replaced.
According to analysis from outplacement services and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, as of October, technology firms had announced 141,159 job cuts since the start of last year, representing a 17% increase from the same period in the previous year. This surge in layoff announcements has sparked concerns about the impact of AI on the workforce and the need for governments to intervene.
Peter Cappelli, a management professor and director of the Center for Human Resources at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, has expressed skepticism about the notion that AI is driving corporate layoffs. He noted that "there's very little evidence that [AI] cuts jobs anywhere near like the level that we're talking about." Cappelli also emphasized that effectively using AI to replace human workers is "enormously complicated and time-consuming."
On the other hand, some experts argue that AI has the potential to create new job opportunities in fields such as IT, data science, and software development. For instance, the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025 predicted that AI would create 78 million more jobs than it eliminates by 2030.
As we navigate this complex landscape of technological change, it is essential to consider the perspectives of both those who benefit from AI-driven innovation and those who are displaced by its adoption. HP's AI-driven layoff plans serve as a reminder of the need for ongoing dialogue and cooperation between businesses, governments, and workers to ensure that the benefits of technological progress are shared equitably.
In conclusion, while HP's decision to ramp up AI use may be seen as a cost-cutting measure, it is crucial to examine the broader implications of this trend on our workforce and society at large. By engaging in informed discussions about the role of AI in shaping our economy and society, we can work towards creating a future where technological innovation enhances human well-being.
Related Information:
https://www.digitaleventhorizon.com/articles/HPs-AI-Driven-Layoffs-The-Unseen-Consequences-on-Human-Workforce-deh.shtml
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2025/11/hp-plans-to-save-millions-by-laying-off-thousands-ramping-up-ai-use/
Published: Wed Nov 26 13:15:25 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
