20260116 – AI's first real casualties (e27.co)

In a significant development for the AI/ML landscape, a report has revealed that approximately 245,000 jobs were eliminated in 2025 due to the adoption of artificial intelligence across various corporate sectors, particularly in customer support and HR. Companies like Salesforce and Amazon exemplified this trend, with Salesforce reducing its customer support staff from 9,000 to 5,000 and Amazon cutting 14,000 roles specifically attributed to AI integration. This shift reflects a broader move toward automation, with organizations recognizing AI as a primary driver of cost efficiency, fundamentally altering the job market within the technology sector. The implications of this trend are profound for the AI/ML community, as it highlights the transition of AI from a mere buzzword to a critical factor influencing employment dynamics. Large firms such as IBM and Accenture are not only substituting human roles with AI but also reallocating resources towards expanding their AI-focused workforce. As organizations adopt an "AI-first" hiring policy—favoring automation over human employment—the challenge becomes more pressing for professionals in traditional tech roles. This automation wave raises ethical concerns about workforce displacement while underscoring the necessity for workers to adapt in a rapidly evolving job market driven by AI advancements.