March 2026 – Artificial intelligence
is increasingly invoked as the explanation behind organisational
changes, productivity shifts, or even workforce reductions. In many
cases this reflects a genuine technological transformation. In
others, however, AI risks becoming a convenient narrative rather
than an accurate description of what actually occurs within a
business.
The numbers are instructive. According to a report published by
Challenger, Gray & Christmas, of the 1.2 million job cuts
announced by US companies in 2025, AI was cited in approximately
55,000 of them. When workforce decisions are already subject to
scrutiny, explanations that do not hold up to legal or factual
examination may create additional risks for employers.
