According to a recent article, Demis Hassabis, the Nobel Prize-winning CEO of Google DeepMind, argued at a Google I/O event that the real reason behind many layoffs is not artificial intelligence but 'imitative behaviour'. Hassabis stated that companies are "copying" each other rather than independently assessing how AI should fit into their operations, driven by a fear of missing out. He described this mindset as "super worrying" and has previously argued that removing people to make room for AI reflects a "lack of imagination". Firms such as Oracle, Meta, and Amazon have pointed to efficiency gains and shifting priorities as reasons for reducing headcount, but Hassabis believes the explanation is often that companies see others cutting jobs and conclude they should do the same.