Definitely excuse. So many of these companies dramatically over hired during COVID, then after COVID saw a normalization of profits, and a loss because they over hired.
Take block for an example, double or tripled their employees since COVID, but around 2022-2023 their profits fell off hard - they said “AI” is why they’re doing cuts. No, they’re doing cuts because they’re going under
Even more simply, demand is drying up as people are getting squeezed from small wage gains and huge inflation. Low demand for goods and incessant demand for “stakeholder value” means cuts have to come. If they’re not in quality, it’s in overhead (staff) - or both. And now bosses have excuses for both back-office and production staff - “automation” and “AI” respectively.
Since this time period I’ve noticed a severe drop in quality from software companies, to the point I have stopped using most products - which in a result drops the companies profits more 😂
I never understood how they were so deluded into thinking it was permanent. Sure we didn’t know how long it would last but we knew it wasn’t permanent.
CEO of zoom was legit shocked when their stock normalized.
Definitely excuse. So many of these companies dramatically over hired during COVID, then after COVID saw a normalization of profits, and a loss because they over hired.
Take block for an example, double or tripled their employees since COVID, but around 2022-2023 their profits fell off hard - they said “AI” is why they’re doing cuts. No, they’re doing cuts because they’re going under
Even more simply, demand is drying up as people are getting squeezed from small wage gains and huge inflation. Low demand for goods and incessant demand for “stakeholder value” means cuts have to come. If they’re not in quality, it’s in overhead (staff) - or both. And now bosses have excuses for both back-office and production staff - “automation” and “AI” respectively.
Since this time period I’ve noticed a severe drop in quality from software companies, to the point I have stopped using most products - which in a result drops the companies profits more 😂
“I’m doing my part”.gif
Block (for those who don’t know): https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/26/business/block-layoffs-ai-jack-dorsey
I actually hated the “journalism” done by CNN here. This one is a little better: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ronshevlin/2026/02/27/block-lays-off-40-of-staff-and-blames-it-on-ai-dont-buy-the-excuse/
Fair and cheers for another source
I never understood how they were so deluded into thinking it was permanent. Sure we didn’t know how long it would last but we knew it wasn’t permanent.
CEO of zoom was legit shocked when their stock normalized.