Simon; While companies have indeed cited AI in tens of thousands of layoffs over

Simon;
While companies have indeed cited AI in tens of thousands of layoffs over the past year, much of this appears to be “AI-washing”—using the technology as a convenient justification for cost-cutting, restructuring, or correcting overhiring from the pandemic era, rather than direct, widespread replacement of workers by mature AI systems. Overall unemployment remains low (around 4.6% in the US as of late 2025), and AI’s impact so far has been more about automating specific tasks within jobs than causing net job losses across the economy. That said, adoption is accelerating, and projections suggest more disruption ahead, potentially displacing 92 million roles globally by 2030 while creating 170 million new ones for a net gain.