IBM has joined the wave of mass layoffs in Big Tech, cutting around 8,000 jobs in 2025, with its Human Resources department bearing the brunt. The century-old company, now led by CEO Arvind Krishna, attributes the move to its growing use of artificial intelligence to automate tasks once handled by HR professionals.
Krishna, a vocal advocate for AI adoption, recently told The Wall Street Journal that IBM had already used AI to “replace the work of a couple hundred human resources workers,” emphasizing that the company’s overall headcount has actually grown, as automation frees up resources for investment in other areas.
The layoffs sparked a mix of criticism and humor online. While some users quoted philosophical sayings about change, others sarcastically questioned whether AI would now be responsible for traditional tasks like creating Diwali decorations.
IBM’s move echoes similar actions by companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft, reflecting a broader industry trend where AI integration is reshaping the structure of tech workforces — often at the cost of thousands of jobs.
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