IBM has reportedly let go of approximately 8,000 workers, with the majority of these layoffs said to be concentrated within the company’s Human Resources division. This development follows IBM’s recent rollout of AI tools designed to handle duties once managed by human resources personnel, resulting in the elimination of approximately 200 jobs. As businesses continue to adopt artificial intelligence for a growing range of functions, more roles are being phased out.
In a recent interview, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna shared that the company has been rapidly embracing AI and automation to boost efficiency. He also mentioned that despite these technological shifts, IBM’s total workforce has grown, as the savings from automation are being redirected into areas like marketing, software engineering, and sales operations.
IBM is actively advancing its AI offerings to customers. During its annual Think conference this month, the company unveiled a suite of new solutions aimed at helping enterprises develop and operate their own AI-driven agents. These tools are built to integrate seamlessly with leading platforms from OpenAI, Amazon, and Microsoft.
According to figures from the layoff tracking platform Layoffs.fyi, over 61,220 tech workers have been laid off so far in 2025, affecting employees across 130 different companies. Here’s a brief summary of the latest workforce reductions announced by major tech giants such as Google and Microsoft.
Google mass layoffs:
On May 13, Microsoft, the tech giant based in Redmond, announced its decision to cut 6,000 jobs—its most significant round of layoffs since 2023. This reduction represents around 3% of its global workforce of 228,000 employees.
The cuts span multiple departments and regions, with approximately 2,000 positions affected in Washington state alone. Microsoft explained that the restructuring is part of its strategy to realign internal teams and stay competitive in a rapidly changing and dynamic market.
Microsoft mass layoffs:
Google has also initiated another wave of layoffs, adding to the series of job cuts earlier this year. In April, the company downsized several hundred positions in its Platforms & Devices division, which encompasses Android, Pixel, and Chrome.
These layoffs followed earlier staff reductions and voluntary exits in its cloud division back in February. It’s also notable that in January 2023, Alphabet, Google’s parent company, laid off 12,000 employees—equivalent to 6% of its global workforce.
Amazon mass layoffs:
Amazon has recently laid off around 100 employees from its Devices and Services unit, which oversees products like Alexa, Echo smart speakers, Kindle, and the Zoox self-driving vehicle project. The company stated that these workforce reductions are aimed at streamlining operations and better positioning the division to support upcoming product strategies.
