The Running List: Major Tech Layoffs in 2026 Where Employers Cited AI

My take: TechCrunch published Monday a self-updating tracker of all the major 2026 tech layoffs where the company cited AI, plain and simple, as the cause. The list already includes Amazon, Oracle, GitLab, Block, and Salesforce, with nearly 184,000 workers affected so far this year. 56% of 2026 layoffs mention AI, automation, or machine learning (the AI that learns on its own from data) as a direct factor. And what I think is key to underline, no beating around the bush: most of these are PROFITABLE companies, they aren't cutting because they're short on cash, but to free up capital and reinvest it in AI infrastructure. So they lay off with one hand and build data centers with the other, at the same time, at the same company. That says a whole lot about how the sector is distributing (or NOT distributing) the gains from automation, and it bothers me. My same advice still stands: learn to use the tool before the tool decides for you. Of course, that's just my opinion.