Since the beginning of 2026, the IT sector has witnessed 363 waves of layoffs, affecting approximately 150,000 workers. On average, 974 professionals lose their jobs each day, reflecting a 44% increase over the previous year. In May, the layoff rate reached its highest level in two years, with top management often citing the implementation of artificial intelligence as justification for these decisions.
At the same time, experts question the direct link between the adoption of neural networks and widespread layoffs. Jack Dorsey, founder of Block, explained that excessive hiring during the pandemic needs to be corrected. According to investor Marc Andreessen, many large companies maintain excessive staffing, with AI cited as a formal justification for cost-saving policies and to mask the consequences of past personnel management errors.
Meanwhile, companies specializing in AI are demonstrating rapid growth in market capitalization. Following its IPO, the chip manufacturer Cerebras Systems reached a valuation of $67 billion, while Anthropic and OpenAI are each approaching $1 trillion in valuation. Overall, positive growth prospects for AI contribute to a rise in the number of millionaires — by approximately two million individuals.
Simultaneously, corporations are adjusting business processes to adapt to new technological realities: YouTube is updating its content labeling system; Spotify is introducing artist authenticity verification; Google and Sony are working on copyright protection; and Amazon plans to use AI to accelerate film production despite resistance from the industry.