Elastic CEO Ash Kulkarni announced a reduction of approximately 7% of the workforce due to changes in the industry driven by advances in AI, automation, and technology. Kulkarni acknowledged the contributions of affected employees and emphasized the lasting impact of their work.

The fourth annual AI at Work report reveals that 74% of frontline employees are regular AI users, a 23-point increase from last year, with 42% saving at least 8 hours per week. However, 66% of these users receive little or no guidance on how to reinvest their saved time effectively.

In 2026, many companies are implementing top-down mandates for AI transformation, reminiscent of China's Great Leap Forward in 1958. The original campaign aimed to rapidly industrialize China by producing steel, resulting in widespread famine due to ineffective practices.