Want to Keep Your Job?

Welcome back apprentices! 👋

Remember the days when getting laid off meant a box of your things and an awkward farewell?

 Well, it’s 2025, and now, you might not even get a goodbye email — because AI is handling the exit interviews too.

Tech giants aren’t just flirting with automation anymore; they’ve gone all-in, swapping employees for algorithms faster than you can say “restructuring.” 

Microsoft, Meta, and Workday are leading the AI-powered layoff revolution, and no industry is off-limits.

If you’ve got a job, great! 

But here’s the big question: Will AI take your spot on the payroll next? In just a second, we’ll break down which companies are cutting humans loose, what roles are on the chopping block, and — most importantly — how you can keep your seat at the table.

In today's email

• Big Tech’s $325B AI Splurge

• Alexa, Are You Smarter Than Me Now?

• AI Drama Alert

• The AI Layoff Tango of 2025

• More Tools & Updates

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Quick News 

💸 Silicon Valley just put $325 billion on AI like it’s a Black Friday sale, with Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet all racing to build bigger, smarter, and possibly sassier algorithms. But investors are starting to sweat — because while AI is cool, burning cash faster than a crypto crash isn’t exactly a solid business model. Will this tech binge pay off, or are we witnessing the world’s most expensive midlife crisis? Stay tuned  —because if AI starts sending us invoices, we’re all in trouble.

🤖 Amazon is supercharging Alexa with AI so advanced, she might start judging your life choices. This next-gen upgrade will turn Alexa into a conversational mastermind—no more just setting timers; she’ll actually chat with you like a real assistant (or a nosy friend). The catch? The smartest version might come with a price tag, because nothing says "welcome to the future" like a monthly subscription fee. If you thought she was listening before, wait until she starts finishing your sentences.

🚪 John Schulman, one of the brains behind ChatGPT, just pulled an Irish goodbye on Anthropic after only five months — and nobody’s spilling the tea on why. He joined to focus on AI alignment, but apparently, the only thing getting realigned was his career path. With Anthropic’s product pipeline slowing down, his exit has people wondering: Did he see the future… and nope out? Stay tuned for the next episode of Silicon Valley Musical Chairs.

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2025 AI Layoffs 
Dancing Through the Downsizing Disco 

Ah, 2025 — a year when corporate layoffs have become as common as questionable TikTok dance challenges. But this time, the downsizing shuffle isn’t just about cost-cutting CEOs — there’s a new lead on the dance floor: AI.

Let's waltz through the latest corporate downsizing moves and see how AI is orchestrating this complex choreography.

The Rise of the Machines

AI is no longer a futuristic concept — it’s a full-fledged executive assistant (minus the salary complaints and coffee breaks). With its ability to automate tasks, analyze vast amounts of data, and optimize workflows, AI has become the MVP of efficiency. But with great power comes great... layoffs. According to a 2025 McKinsey report, AI-driven automation is expected to displace 12 million jobs in the U.S. alone by 2030, with corporate restructuring already accelerating this trend.

Big Tech is leading the AI-powered job purge with moves that would make even the most ruthless ballroom judges wince:

Meta’s Performance Two-Step

Meta is shedding around 5% of its workforce — roughly 4,000 employees — in what CEO Mark Zuckerberg euphemistically calls a "performance review" (read: AI’s taking over, and humans didn’t make the cut). Meta’s AI budget? A staggering $40 billion in 2025, making it clear that their algorithms are getting a corner office while employees get pink slips. 

Microsoft’s Restructuring Rumba

Microsoft isn’t sitting this one out either. The tech giant has been aggressively investing in AI, leading to job eliminations, particularly in roles deemed “redundant” by their automation overlords. In early 2025, Microsoft announced a 5,000-employee layoff despite posting record AI-driven revenue growth of $61 billion in Q1 alone.

Workday’s AI Shuffle

Workday is cutting 1,750 jobs — a hefty 8.5% of its workforce — as it pivots hard toward AI integration. The company just allocated $1.5 billion to AI-driven HR solutions, aiming to replace human HR professionals with algorithms that don’t need lunch breaks. 

Beyond Tech

AI isn’t just shaking up Silicon Valley — it’s sending ripples across various industries:

Financial Services: The Wall Street Robot Takeover

According to a Forbes report, AI-powered financial analysis tools could replace 250,000 banking jobs by 2030. Goldman Sachs has already trimmed 3,200 employees in 2025, citing AI-driven efficiency as the reason. Hedge funds are now favoring AI algorithms over junior analysts, proving that even finance bros aren’t safe from the bot apocalypse.

Energy Sector: BP’s AI-Driven Layoffs

BP has announced a 4,700-employee reduction to streamline operations as AI takes over predictive maintenance and logistics. With AI forecasting oil prices and optimizing drilling efficiency, human analysts are increasingly being swapped for silicon-based alternatives. 

The Double-Edged Sword of AI Integration

AI isn’t just a job thief — it’s also a game-changer. Companies adopting AI at scale have reported:

• 🚀 30% higher productivity in automated roles

• 💰 40% reduction in operational costs 

• ⚡ 50% faster decision-making processes

But, of course, this progress comes with a human cost. Studies predict that two-thirds of all jobs will be affected by AI by 2035, with low-skill positions at the highest risk.

How You and Your Boss Can Dance Without Stepping on Each Other’s Toes

To avoid turning the workplace into a scene from The Hunger Games, both businesses and employees need to find a way to co-exist with AI. Here’s how both sides can adapt:

1. Invest in Employee Reskilling

Companies should allocate at least 10% of their AI budgets toward retraining employees for roles requiring human creativity and strategic decision-making. Employees, on the other hand, should proactively seek out AI-related training to stay ahead of the curve.

2. Foster a Culture of Innovation

Businesses that encourage AI-human collaboration rather than replacement see 20% higher employee retention rates. Employees who embrace AI tools and find ways to work alongside automation will be more valuable than those who resist change.

3. Implement Ethical AI Practices

Bias in AI hiring and firing decisions has become a hot topic. In fact, 43% of AI-driven layoffs in 2024 were later found to be discriminatory, leading to lawsuits and PR nightmares. Companies should establish transparent, bias-free AI policies. Employees should also advocate for fair AI implementation and keep a close eye on how these decisions impact workplace dynamics.

4. Engage in Open Communication

AI layoffs are inevitable, but blindsiding employees isn’t. A Glassdoor survey found that companies with proactive AI communication strategies had 60% fewer resignations compared to those that left employees in the dark. Employees should also take initiative by asking their employers about AI’s role in their industry and seeking clarity on how it will affect their positions.

Dancing with the Bots

AI is leading the corporate dance, and like it or not, we’re all part of the routine. While some companies are tripping over their own feet, others are learning to dance with AI rather than against it. 

The key is balance: leveraging AI’s efficiency while ensuring human talent isn’t discarded like last season’s viral dance trend.

So, if you’re worried about your job, maybe it’s time to learn a new set of moves — preferably ones that AI can’t copy... yet.

Tools & Updates

⚡ French AI lab Mistral just dropped its le Chat assistant on iOS and Android, and it’s blazing fast — we’re talking 10x quicker than ChatGPT and Claude. Need answers before your coffee gets cold? ‘Flash Answers’ has you covered. With custom enterprise deployment and pricing that starts at $14.99/month, Mistral isn’t just flexing speed — it’s making AI assistants actually useful. Watch out, OpenAI, there’s a new cat in town.

🐶 Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is rolling out GSAi, an AI chatbot to help bureaucrats actually get stuff done. The goal? Streamline government paperwork and procurement—because nothing screams "cutting-edge AI" like automating office drudgery. But with AI now whispering into the ears of federal agencies, one question remains: How long before it demands its own budget?

💼 GitHub just supercharged Copilot, and it’s acting less like an assistant and more like your overly ambitious coworker. The new Agent Mode fixes your bugs before you even admit they exist, while Vision lets you turn images into working code—because typing is so 2023. Oh, and Project Padawan is coming soon to handle GitHub issues and write fully tested pull requests. At this rate, your junior devs might start “mentoring” AI instead.

Let's Chat About AI

This is all for today!

Replay to this email with your thoughts.

AI is more than just a buzzword. It’s a shift in how we live and work. And understanding it a bit better means you can make smarter choices about the tech you use every day.

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