Layoffs and Artificial Intelligence: Reality or Pretext?

In recent months, there has been a wave of layoffs in the technology sector, with several companies attributing these staff reductions to the integration of artificial intelligence-based solutions. The question that arises is: how much of this motivation is real and how much is it simply a cover for corporate downsizing operations?

The adoption of AI, particularly large language models (LLMs), promises to automate various tasks, increasing efficiency and reducing the need for human intervention in certain processes. However, the implementation of these technologies requires significant investments in hardware infrastructure, specialized skills, and adaptation of existing workflows.

It is possible that some companies are actually exploiting the potential of AI to optimize their operations and reduce costs, which inevitably leads to a review of personnel. On the other hand, the enthusiasm and pressure to adopt AI solutions could push other companies to justify already planned layoffs with the excuse of technological innovation, a phenomenon that some call "AI-washing".