Story perspectives

AI Triggers 38% Layoff Surge, O'Leary Proposes Mega Campus

6/7/2026

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Summary

Sonderling Augments

Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said AI will augment, not replace, U.S. workers.
The Labor Department is still measuring the scope of AI-related job loss.
U.S. layoffs rose to 83,387 in April, a 38% increase, with AI responsible for about 26% of cuts.
Investor Kevin O’Leary announced a Utah AI campus that would need 9 gigawatts of power and could create “millions” of jobs, despite environmental concerns.

Summary

Jobs Alliance Funding

The Early Careers Jobs Alliance receives £20 million to study AI’s impact on entry-level work.
Prospect’s Mike Clancy and DSIT AI Champion Katie Gallagher OBE co-chair the alliance.
A summer pilot in Lancashire and Greater Manchester will deliver AI bootcamps and Level 3 apprenticeships with JD Sports, BAE Systems and PA Consulting.
TechFirst’s Youth Guarantee invests £820 million to create 350,000 training places, 55,000 guaranteed jobs and reach 800,000 11-to-18-year-olds by 2029, including 400,000 from disadvantaged schools.

Summary

Ton-That Accelerates

Hoan Ton-That, founder of Clearview AI, says AI coding tools let him build software in days that previously took months.
Clearview AI’s facial-recognition system lets law enforcement search billions of images by uploading a photo, aiding investigations of child abuse and human trafficking.
Ton-That likens today’s mixed fear and excitement over AI coding tools to the backlash his facial-recognition technology faced, noting privacy advocates worry it erodes personal privacy.

Summary

Block Cuts

Block cut more than 4,000 of its over 10,000 employees in February, citing AI adoption.
A Gartner survey of 350 executives reported that 80 percent experienced layoffs, while firms that upskilled staff saw AI gains.
An Aon study of 504 Asia-Pacific firms found that 74 percent use AI and 84 percent say it augments jobs.
Microsoft appointed former attorney Natasha Crampton as its first chief responsible AI officer, highlighting non-technical AI career paths.

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Sonderling Augments

Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said AI will augment, not replace, U.S. workers.
The Labor Department is still measuring the scope of AI-related job loss.
U.S. layoffs rose to 83,387 in April, a 38% increase, with AI responsible for about 26% of cuts.
Investor Kevin O’Leary announced a Utah AI campus that would need 9 gigawatts of power and could create “millions” of jobs, despite environmental concerns.

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