Did AI really take their jobs? As big tech companies sack staff and say AI will pick up the slack, workers are left to grapple with what’s really going on. Andrew Hamilton’s job was meant to be safe.

He came of age in a golden era for programmers, with the demand for code greatly outstripping the pace at which people could write it.

But now, AI tools are threatening an end to the good times. Even as a self-described “early adopter” of AI tools, Hamilton was caught up in a wave of AI-related job cuts sweeping the industry.

He was laid off last month, along with 4,000 of his ex-colleagues at Block — the company behind Square, Afterpay and Cash App.

The company cut 40 per cent of its workforce, citing improvements in AI for why it needed fewer staff.

Several other large tech companies have made similar cuts and given the same reason. Atlassian slashed 10 per cent of its staff. Meta is reportedly planning lay-offs of 20 per cent. Amazon cut 16,000 workers in January. For WiseTech, it was 2,000.

It’s enough to send a shiver down the spine of any white-collar worker. If AI really is behind the cuts at tech companies, could they be next?

But as the lay-offs keep coming, a divide has opened up about what is really driving them. Many remain sceptical of AI’s ability to replace workers, while others think we’re seeing the end of knowledge work as we know it. (read on)