Tech Layoffs and the Rise of the AI Dependent Engineer The recent wave of layoffs in the tech industry has sent shockwaves through the engineering community, with over 128,000 workers affected across 286 separate events this year alone.
Amidst the chaos, one truth is becoming increasingly clear: companies are not cutting back on their investments in artificial intelligence.
In fact, AI expenditures have reached a staggering $725 billion in 2026, up from $410 billion just last year. The layoffs raise important questions about the future of work in the tech industry.