A major HR technology company recently made headlines for two contrasting announcements within the same week.
First, the organization terminated approximately 1,750 workers in what they described as a restructuring effort. Just days later, the same company revealed plans for launching an advanced artificial intelligence agent deployment platform.
This timing has sparked discussions about whether companies are replacing human workers with automated systems. The new AI system is designed to handle various business processes that were previously managed by employees.
Many industry observers are questioning the connection between these two events. Some argue that the layoffs were planned independently of the AI rollout, while others suggest this represents a broader trend of workforce automation.
What are your thoughts on companies implementing AI solutions immediately after reducing their human workforce? Do you think this is becoming a common pattern in the tech industry?
totally agree, it’s hard to believe they didn’t plan this. looks like they’re using ai as a scapegoat but we all know the truth. feels like a trend now, making excuses and cutting jobs for tech.
The optics are awful, but this screams poor communication strategy more than anything. I’ve been through several automation rollouts, and the real problem isn’t companies replacing people with AI - it’s how they’re doing it completely backwards. Every successful digital transformation I’ve seen started by figuring out which processes actually need automation, then moving affected workers into better roles. When you announce layoffs and AI at the same time, you’re basically saying you never had a real workforce plan. The tech isn’t the issue - using it to patch up bad planning just makes things worse later.
This disconnect is wild but totally typical. Most companies do this backwards.
I’ve automated entire departments - the key isn’t replacing people overnight. Build workflows that actually fit your business processes first.
This company missed that AI platforms need serious workflow design. You can’t just deploy agents and expect magic. Someone has to map data flows between systems, handle exceptions, and monitor performance.
Those 1,750 people knew exactly how their processes worked. Now they’re gone and the AI will struggle with edge cases nobody documented.
Smarter move? Keep key people to design automation workflows properly. I’ve seen companies save way more by automating right instead of cutting headcount and hoping AI fixes everything.
They’re treating this like either/or - humans or AI. Best results come from workflows that combine both.
Instead of building complex AI agent platforms from scratch, automate existing processes step by step. Way less risky and faster results.
Want to see how workflow automation actually works without corporate drama: https://latenode.com
I’ve been in enterprise software for over a decade, and this timing is classic corporate BS. Companies rush AI rollouts during layoffs because they need to show stakeholders quick cost savings. Here’s the thing - most AI platforms need 12-18 months of planning, so these projects were already running way before they announced the cuts. What really pisses me off is how they just cut people instead of retraining them for AI oversight roles. I’ve watched this same pattern at multiple companies - they chase short-term savings from automation instead of investing in workforce development that’d actually help everyone long-term.
this whole thing screams quarterly earnings panic. CEO probably had to explain dropping revenue to investors and threw together this AI announcement to make the layoffs look “strategic” instead of desperate budget cuts.
Seeing this pattern everywhere now. Companies finally get that automation isn’t just cost-cutting - it’s about doing things better and faster.
Timing looks brutal, but here’s what’s really happening. Those 1,750 people were probably doing repetitive stuff an AI can handle 24/7. Data entry, routine requests, copying info between systems - all automatable.
I’ve walked several teams through switching from manual work to full automation. The trick is connecting your current tools without rebuilding everything.
Most companies screw this up thinking they need custom AI agents. Wrong. You can build smart workflows that handle the same business processes way more efficiently. Lead processing, data syncing, customer onboarding - runs itself.
Smart play? Set up automation before you’re forced to cut people. You’re actually improving operations instead of just reacting to budget problems.
If you’re facing similar issues, see what proper workflow automation can do: https://latenode.com
Been through three major automation projects at different companies and this feels like damage control gone wrong.
Here’s what probably happened. Finance looked at quarterly numbers, panicked, and pushed for immediate headcount cuts. Meanwhile, the AI platform team had been working on their launch timeline for months, completely separate from HR’s plans.
Now leadership’s trying to spin this as strategic when it’s just bad coordination between departments. I’ve seen this exact scenario twice. Engineering builds cool automation tools, executives get excited about cost savings, but nobody thinks through the messaging until it’s too late.
The frustrating part? AI platforms work best when you have experienced people managing them. Those 1,750 workers could’ve been transitioned into monitoring and optimizing the new systems instead of getting cut loose.
When we rolled out process automation at my last company, we kept the domain experts around to train the AI and handle edge cases. Way better results than just flipping a switch and hoping everything works.
This company basically chose the nuclear option when they could’ve done a gradual transition that actually makes business sense.
It’s a complex but growing trend. Many companies are introducing tools like an AI workforce platform to cut costs and boost efficiency, especially in areas such as automated customer service AI. While it doesn’t always mean direct replacement, the timing—like in this case—often fuels concerns about jobs being automated away. Platforms like Agentra highlight how AI can streamline operations, but the real challenge is balancing innovation with responsible workforce management.