Welcome to the era of the forever layoff
Major tech companies are increasingly adopting a strategy of 'continuous tuning,' where they conduct recurring layoffs while simultaneously hiring for AI-focused roles. This trend suggests that workforce reductions are becoming a standard corporate ritual as firms pivot resources toward artificial intelligence.
Why it matters
The shift toward 'continuous tuning' signals a fundamental change in tech employment stability, driven by the rapid integration of AI into business models.
For some tech firms, layoffs are a way of "continuous tuning," as business priorities change. Getty Images; Tyler Le/BI Tech layoffs are a recurring feature of the AI era. Companies are cutting jobs while continuing to hire for certain roles, especially around AI. Layoffs aren't usually because firms are entirely replacing workers with AI, said one tech leader. Microsoft's latest round of layoffs has become a familiar corporate ritual. Last week, the software giant said it would eliminate about 4,800 jobs , marking another workforce reduction, as it remains profitable and invests heavily in AI. Similar layoffs, from Amazon to Meta, have rippled across tech over the past several years, while many of those same companies amass big AI budgets. In May, Cloudflare eliminated more than 20% of its workforce .
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