The bulk of "AI layoffs" I agree are bullshit. They are using it as an excuse to increase quarterly profits while not signalling any weakness to investors, and in fact voicing layoffs in a way that make them sound competitive.

However ... I work in software and am married to someone in the art industry. It's definitely cut jobs in ways that might not be sustainable, but still cut jobs. They are barely hiring junior devs anymore. They think they can get away with tiny teams of seniors that use AI constantly.

And the art industry is changed forever. They simply don't need certain artist jobs as much anymore. I know someone who would work with these people who buy images from photographers. They used to charge a ton for licensing. Now they skip the photographers and use AI and save a fuck ton of money doing it, and have actual artists clean up the AI artifacts. There is a lot less value in photography for certain industries.

And pay attention to writers who post about their job just disappearing. AI is being used to pump out writing material that used to be a career.

Is it sustainable? Maybe not. I think people have an eye for the AI slop and will spend less money on cheap looking services that prove they cut costs anywhere they can. But jobs have been cut.