Factbox: Companies cutting jobs as investments shift toward AI

British American Tobacco P.l.c

27/02/2026 10:37

Adds Proximus layoffs.

Feb 27 (Reuters) - Investors' and economists' concerns that artificial intelligence will upend established industries are deepening, as Goldman Sachs warned in February that accelerating AI adoption could push U.S. unemployment higher this year, with job losses already emerging in sectors most exposed to automation.

Goldman economists estimated that the technology was responsible for 5,000 to 10,000 monthly net job losses last year in the most exposed U.S. industries, and accounted for 7% of total planned layoffs in January.

Below is a table of AI-linked global layoffs announced since October from biggest to smallest. Entries with no specified number are placed at the bottom.

COMPANY
MONTH ANNOUNCED
JOB CUTS
NOTES
Amazon AMZN.O
January
16,000
Corporate job cuts; AI‑ and efficiency‑driven overhaul.
HP Inc HPQ.N
November
4,000-6,000
Global cuts by end-2028; AI and operational streamlining.
Mizuho 8411.T
February
Up to 5,000
Cuts over 10 years; long-term AI‑driven streamlining plan.
Dow DOW.N
January
4,500
13% of workforce; automation and AI streamlining.
Block XYZ.N
February
>4,000
Nearly half its workforce; AI‑focused restructuring.
SEB SEBF.PA
February
Up to 2,100
Cuts by end-2027; restructuring to leverage AI.
Wisetech WTC.AX
February
2,000
One-third of global workforce; AI integration.
Allianz ALVG.DE
November
Up to 1,800
Travel insurance division; AI replacing manual work.
Proximus PROX.BR
February
1,200
Cuts by 2030; AI efficiency measures.
Meta META.O, Reality Labs
January
>1,000
Pivot from Metaverse to AI devices.
Autodesk ADSK.O
January
~1,000
7% of workforce; shift towards cloud and AI.
Nike NKE.N
January
775
Profit push and automation.
Telstra TLS.AX
February
650
AI‑driven restructuring with Infosys INFY.NS.
Meta, Superintelligence Labs
October
~600
Downsizing in AI division.
Pinterest PINS.N
January
Up to 15% of workforce
Redirecting resources toward AI strategy.
Agora AGOP.WA
December
Up to 166
Nearly 7% of workforce; digital restructuring.
MercadoLibre 
MELI.O
January
119
AI‑expansion move.
British American Tobacco BATS.L
February
Not specified
AI‑driven productivity programme.

(Reporting by Romolo Tosiani, Philippe Leroy Beaulieu in Gdansk; Editing by Matt Scuffham and Milla Nissi-Prussak)

((Romolo.Tosiani@tr.com;))