In the past year, several well-known American companies have announced large-scale layoffs, all attributing the reasons to "artificial intelligence improving efficiency." However, several economists and technology analysts have recently raised doubts, suggesting that this phenomenon is more like "AI-washing," where company executives use AI as a scapegoat to hide real business issues such as tariff pressures, over-hiring during the pandemic, and pursuing profit maximization.

According to data from the consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, over 54,000 layoffs in the U.S. in 2025 were attributed to AI. Amazon announced the layoff of 16,000 employees in January this year, and its executives emphasized in an internal memo that AI is the most transformative technology since the internet, and the company needs to become more streamlined. HP and the language learning app Duolingo also expressed similar views, stating that AI will replace some manual tasks.

However, a report by the market research company Forrester indicated that AI is not yet capable of replacing most jobs. Experts analyzed that for many CEOs without a technical background, blindly laying off workers without mature AI applications often requires up to two years to achieve actual technological substitution, and may even result in failure.

Analysis further pointed out that companies are more willing to "shift blame" onto AI because it is easier for the market to accept than admitting the impact of macro policies, such as rising costs due to tariffs. By packaging layoffs as "technology-driven efficiency improvements," companies can demonstrate their industry leadership to investors and avoid potential political risks.

Key Points:

  • 🛡️ Concealing the Truth: Experts question that U.S. companies use "AI-driven efficiency" as an excuse for layoffs, actually to deal with tariff pressures, over-hiring, and profit metrics. This behavior is called "AI-washing."

  • 📉 Large Scale: In 2025 alone, over 54,000 jobs were cut under the guise of AI, involving giants like Amazon and HP. However, research shows that only about 6% of jobs can be automated before 2030.

  • ⚠️ Transformation Risks: Some CEOs are making hasty layoffs without mature AI applications. Experts warn that using AI to fill the gap left by human workers may take up to 24 months and carries a high risk of failure.