Amazon’s massive layoffs have triggered concerns about broader white-collar workforce reductions. The real story goes beyond AI scapegoating to pandemic-era overhiring and economic recalibration. Here’s what’s really happening.
A Microsoft product management director with over two decades at the company was unexpectedly laid off in May, disrupting his retirement plans. The veteran manager now says he’s done with Big Tech entirely and seeking more meaningful work, even at significantly lower pay.
Joe Friend, a director of product management who spent more than two decades across three separate stints at Microsoft, reportedly found himself among the thousands of tech workers caught in recent industry-wide layoffs. According to sources familiar with the situation, the 62-year-old manager learned in May that his position had been eliminated as part of broader corporate restructuring efforts.
As AI agents transform workplaces, professionals report feeling overwhelmed by rapid technology adoption while showing reluctance to take on management roles overseeing human-AI teams. According to a new EY survey, the transition to hybrid workforces is creating significant uncertainty about management responsibilities and training gaps.
Artificial intelligence agents are generating both enthusiasm and anxiety among professionals as organizations race to adopt the technology, according to a recent EY survey of 1,100 professionals and white-collar workers. Sources indicate that while 64% of workers using agentic AI feel overwhelmed by the constant introduction of new tools, most recognize the technology’s potential to augment their capabilities and relieve them of mundane tasks.
