How many jobs is AI really costing?

Block's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 (filed with the SEC on November 3, 2026), management's discussion: "We plan to continue to operate at this smaller size and are continuing to look at ways to improve our efficiency through a combination of AI automation, prioritization of our scope, performance management, and centralization of teams and functions to reduce duplication. During the three months ended September 30, 2026, we recognized immaterial severance and related costs in connection with these efforts, which are not part of the Workforce Plan." Block's email to staff of November 4, 2026, as Business Insider quotes it (November 5): the changes include "reducing the number of roles, changing some responsibilities, and shifting some reporting lines." Business Insider: "While the email about the newest cuts did not mention AI, it referenced "using better tools to handle routine tasks" and "refocusing our teams' time on complex cases and decisions."" Block declined to comment.

Tecnoblog (6 November 2026), in its own words: "O Nubank demitiu cerca de 30 funcionários da equipe responsável por investigar denúncias de fraudes financeiras, após automatizar parte das atividades com inteligência artificial. Os desligamentos aconteceram na terça-feira (03/11), em meio a uma reestruturação do setor." (Translation: Nubank laid off about 30 employees from the team responsible for investigating reports of financial fraud, after automating part of the activities with artificial intelligence. The dismissals took place on Tuesday (3 November), amid a restructuring of the department.) The same report, citing Folha de S.Paulo: "Segundo funcionários e ex-funcionários, a adoção de IA reduziu em 80% a fila de reclamações sobre golpes financeiros nos últimos seis meses." (Translation: According to employees and former employees, the adoption of AI cut the queue of complaints about financial scams by 80% over the last six months.) Nubank, in a statement to Tecnoblog: "reestruturação de uma parte de uma área administrativa levou ao remanejamento interno de profissionais e ao encerramento de algumas posições" (Translation: the restructuring of part of an administrative area led to the internal reassignment of staff and the closing of some positions). The bank's statement does not mention AI.

Woodside chief executive and managing director Liz Westcott, Capital Markets Day 2026 (transcript filed with the ASX, 5 November 2026): "We are accelerating the deployment of AI and other digital technologies. At the same time, we are simplifying workflows, reducing duplication and optimising processes across our global business. We expect the program to deliver a reduction in our global workforce by more than 500 positions over time." In answer to an analyst on the cost target: "We can see that we've got duplication in roles, duplication in effort, and we can see opportunities to increase productivity, often through the deployment of technology. It doesn't need to be AI in some cases, but yes, AI as well." The day's presentation (slide 31, 'Cost out target raised') lists among its delivery pathways "AI-enabled maintenance planning" and "500+ global workforce reduction".

Tripadvisor's Q3 2026 results release (filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026): "On November 4, 2026, the Company initiated a restructuring plan designed to further simplify its Hotels and Other segment, primarily through a reduction of roles across non-core revenue lines." Chief financial officer Mike Noonan on the results call (5 November 2026, Motley Fool transcript): "The restructuring is expected to result in annualized gross savings of over $55 million to the H&O segment, by reducing global employee and contractor roles by 425, or approximately 60%. Of our H&O dedicated roles. Of that, approximately 150 roles, or approximately $15 million in associated costs will move to the experiences segment to increase resourcing there." Chief executive Matt Goldberg, same call, on the segment's future: "So I think we are leaning into that and excited that we will have a smaller team moving faster using AI tools and behaving more like a startup probably."