According to Layoffs.fyi, more than 121,000 tech workers have been laid off across more than 200 tech companies in 2026 alone, driven by broader restructuring and cost reduction, while companies have increased spending on AI. For much of the past year, CEOs, researchers, and industry leaders predicted that AI would replace millions of jobs, particularly entry-level and white-collar roles. Today, the message has shifted, with many of the same executives now discussing productivity, new career opportunities, and the role humans will continue to play in an AI-powered workplace, raising the question of whether AI has become less of a threat to jobs or the industry has gained a better understanding of where the technology delivers the most value.