Restructuring at influential tech companies including Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta have paved the way for the entire tech industry to change course in 2024.
Other firms including Ebay, Paypal, Snap (Snapchat), and Salesforce are some of the more recent tech companies adding to the industry-wide count of layoffs documented by layoffs.fyi — and many on the list are citing a greater focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) development.
Zoom is the most recent company announcing layoffs while shifting priorities to focus on AI. The company is reported to be cutting about 150 jobs — or less than 2% of its workforce, according to CNBC.
In a recent report published by Bloomberg, an unnamed source suggests Zoom is likely positioning itself for future growth by focusing on areas such as AI, sales, and engineering — all areas where the company is still hiring. The company recently unveiled a new app developed specifically for the Apple Vision Pro, to make “hybrid collaboration more immersive,” according to the official announcement.
This approach not only reflects Zoom’s strategy to stay relevant in an increasingly distributed workforce, but it also highlights the major changes in the tech industry — where AI and specialized skills are becoming increasingly critical for employees.
