Sam Altman Accuses Companies of Misusing AI to Justify Layoffs
Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, expressed concerns about the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) as a justification for corporate layoffs. Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit during an interview with CNBC-TV18, Altman suggested that companies may be using AI as a convenient scapegoat. This trend could be masking the real reasons behind job reductions across various sectors.
AI as a Scapegoat for Layoffs
Altman pointed out that while AI has evolved to be a significant part of the tech landscape, it should not be blamed solely for recent layoffs. “There’s some AI washing where people are blaming AI for layoffs that they would otherwise do,” he stated. His remarks highlighted a crucial distinction between genuine job displacement caused by AI and layoffs that have other motivations.
Statistics on AI and Employment
According to research from consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, around 55,000 job losses in 2025 were attributed to AI. However, this figure constituted less than 1% of the total layoffs for that year. A recent study by the National Bureau of Economic Research revealed that 90% of executives surveyed believe AI has had no significant effect on workforce employment over the past three years.
Corporate Messaging vs. Reality
Several companies have attempted to frame their layoffs within the context of AI advancements, only to later retract these claims. For instance, Amazon announced a reduction of 14,000 jobs in spring 2025, initially linking the decision to AI’s implementation, which purportedly required fewer employees. However, by October of the same year, the company stated that AI was not a factor in their layoffs.
The Broader Economic Context
Altman acknowledged the inevitable transformation of the job market due to AI technology. “We’ll find new kinds of jobs, as we do with every tech revolution,” he noted, while also understanding the public’s concerns about employment stability. The current job market is experiencing significant challenges, with numerous layoffs occurring for reasons beyond AI technology.
- 55,000 layoffs attributed to AI in 2025
- Less than 1% of total job losses that year
- 90% of executives report no impact of AI on workplace employment in the last three years
As the discourse around AI continues, it is essential to differentiate between technology-driven changes and traditional economic factors that lead to job losses. There remains much debate on how AI will reshape employment in the future.
