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Tech industry lays off nearly 80,000 employees in the first quarter of 2026 — almost 50% of affected positions cut due to AI

tomshardware.com

April 19, 2026

7 min read

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Summary

In the first quarter of 2026, nearly 80,000 employees were laid off in the tech industry, with almost 50% of these layoffs attributed to AI. Over 76% of the affected positions were located in tech companies.

Key Takeaways

Nearly 80,000 employees in the tech industry were laid off in the first quarter of 2026, with 47.9% of these cuts attributed to AI and workflow automation.
A Stanford study indicated that AI could potentially replace nearly 12% of the U.S. workforce, resulting in approximately $1.2 trillion in lost salaries.
IBM has tripled its entry-level hiring in 2026, emphasizing the need for human involvement despite the capabilities of AI.
Cognizant is developing AI technologies while planning to train existing staff rather than lay them off, indicating a focus on integrating AI into their workforce.

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Tech industry lays off nearly 80,000 employees in the first quarter of 2026 — almost 50% of affected positions cut due to AI ↗

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Community Sentiment

Negative

Concerns

The user interface experience has deteriorated significantly, indicating that AI tools are not yet meeting user expectations and may require further development.
Many companies are misrepresenting their AI capabilities, suggesting a lack of genuine innovation and understanding of AI's role in their operations.
AI is being used as a scapegoat for layoffs, reflecting broader issues in tech hiring practices rather than genuine advancements in AI technology.