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Tech workers are increasingly turning to unions in response to AI-driven layoffs, increased surveillance, and workload pressures, with drives at Google DeepMind, Meta, and others.
This tech news digest covers PsiQuantum's plan to build a useful quantum computer using photons, and a feature on the world's deepest and longest subsea road tunnel, along with other stories including Meta being sued for allegedly using AI to target workers for layoffs.
A report by Orgvue found that 39% of companies made AI-related redundancies, but many leaders regretted it as AI struggled with tasks requiring judgment and institutional memory, leading to a rehiring wave.
The article critiques companies using AI to replace employees purely as a cost-cutting measure, arguing that AI should instead be used to empower and augment human workers.
Tech companies are laying off tens of thousands of workers citing AI, but growing skepticism suggests the real reason is pandemic-era overhiring. The article highlights the tension between layoffs and the immense wealth generated by AI insiders.
TechCrunch's Equity podcast discusses the phenomenon of companies overly relying on AI to replace jobs, citing examples like ClickUp's layoffs for AI agents and rising DuckDuckGo usage due to AI-forced search, with comments from Box CEO Aaron Levie on 'AI psychosis'.
Standard Chartered plans to cut over 7,000 jobs and increase use of AI to replace lower-value human capital.
Nearly 80,000 tech workers were laid off in Q1 2026, with approximately 48% attributed to AI and automation. Industry leaders debate whether AI-driven job cuts represent genuine productivity gains or serve as a convenient excuse for poor business performance.