The other side of the AI boom
29 stories · 25–29
Demand shift
Chegg
Chegg said in October 2025 that it was eliminating 45% of its workforce while facing what it called the new realities of AI, along with less traffic from Google. The reporting describes a drop in demand for the product.
LayoffCompany stated
Dow
Dow, a chemical and plastics manufacturer, is eliminating roughly 4,500 jobs while increasing its use of AI and automation. CBS News reported the cut alongside tech and finance announcements, a sign the same explanation is showing up outside software.
LayoffFunding shift
Pinterest said it plans to cut 15% of its workforce and described the change as part of an AI-forward strategy. A spokesperson told CBS News that the plan includes hiring people who are already proficient with AI, so the cut is also a change in who the company wants to employ.
Role changeAdaptation
IBM
Arvind Krishna told the Wall Street Journal that AI chatbots had taken over the jobs of a few hundred human-resources workers. CNBC reported that he also said IBM had increased hiring in software engineering, sales, and marketing, and that a later 1% global cut could affect nearly 3,000 people.
LayoffCompany stated
Salesforce
Marc Benioff said Salesforce had cut customer support from 9,000 people to about 5,000 because the company needed fewer of them. CNBC reported that he had also said AI was already doing as much as half the work at the company.