A company announcing layoffs cited AI. How original.
Snap is cutting 16% of its workforce, with CEO Evan Spiegel referencing “rapid advancements” in AI.
It joins the ranks of Block, Atlassian, and a handful of others that have cited the tech as one of the driving reasons behind the layoffs.
We could argue over whether these cuts are actually AI-related. Snap’s stock is down 25% this year and more than 90% from its all-time high. That’s despite a big surge over the past month. (It’s a favorite among teens for messaging, so there’s that.)
Regardless of the reason, it doesn’t make the layoffs any less real. What’s more relevant is how similar all these announcements are feeling, writes BI’s Tim Paradis.
Layoff announcements are generally boilerplate, but these layoff-turned-AI-manifestos are all melding together.
It’s almost like CEOs are using Mad Libs for their AI layoffs.
So after analyzing a couple, I decided to write my own for the next CEO who makes cuts.
(Feel free to fill it out before reading. You can even email it to me: ddefrancesco@businessinsider.com.)
TEAM/SQUAD/MADE-UP EMPLOYEE NICKNAME,
Today is a SAD ADJECTIVE day for us. We’re unfortunately saying goodbye to PERCENTAGE of our staff. This decision wasn’t easy to make, but it’s one that needed to be done to secure COMPANY NAME’S future.
Before I explain why I made this decision, I want to thank our departing colleagues for their hard work. We’re committed to helping you during this difficult transition. SEVERANCE PACKAGE DETAILS. ENOUGH TO AVOID BAD PR. NOT ENOUGH TO KILL YOUR BALANCE SHEET.
So why are we doing this now? Over the last SINGLE-DIGIT NUMBER months, we’ve seen AI’s impact on our business FAST ADVERB evolve from potential to actionable. For example, TEAM IMPACTED BY LAYOFFS handled MULTIPLIER its typical volume of work by leveraging AI.
SMALL ADJECTIVE, AI-enabled teams will be better positioned to meet the ever-changing needs of our clients.
We believe these efficiencies are replicable across our business. They’re also necessary to stay ahead in such an AGGRESSIVE ADJECTIVE, AI-first business environment. Today’s decision is about making sure we stay on that path.
For those leaving, FINAL GOODBYE AND LOGISTICAL NEXT STEPS. Workers outside the US, INTERNATIONAL DISCLAIMER. (SAME OUTCOME, MORE STEPS.)
For those remaining, I understand this is a lot to process. I appreciate your SEVERAL COMPLIMENTARY ADJECTIVES during this difficult time. Ultimately, I’m confident today’s decision, as hard as it is, will position us to build an even POWERFUL ADJECTIVE + COMPANY NAME going forward.
FIRST NAME (DESPITE NEVER PERSONALLY SPEAKING TO MOST OF THESE PEOPLE)
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