HR leaders are also resorting to software and algorithms for retrenchment

Due to the rapidly increasing automation and use of Artificial Intelligence i.e. AI, human jobs are decreasing worldwide. Most layoffs are taking place in technology-related companies in the name of cost-cutting and fear of recession. Artificial intelligence is not only replacing humans, but HR executives are also using it to conduct layoffs.
It shouldn't come as much of a surprise that AI, once used to speed up and ease decision-making in the technology sector, is now being used to create layoff lists. According to outplacement company Challenger, Gray & Christmas, there were about 42,000 layoffs in tech companies in the US last month, which is the second-largest figure ever.
A report by Captera, an arm of tech research firm Gartner, claims that 98% of HR leaders surveyed believe they will rely on software and algorithms of some sort to reduce labour costs if a recession hits in 2023. . Managing daily wage workers through algorithms is not a new thing.
In 2021, Bloomberg News reported that Amazon was tracking its flex delivery drivers, some of whom were fired via automated email after the algorithm determined they were not meeting their assigned goals.
However, office workers have escaped such scrutiny for the time being as the data to track them, in the same way, does not exist. But with the growing popularity of workforce productivity scores, their tracking is also becoming possible. AIs are being activated to monitor their every keyboard stroke and mouse click and can include them in the layoff list based on their productivity.
According to some experts, Amazon had created an automated tool to screen job applicants. The system was trained to look at historical data from people who had submitted resumes in the past. But because the tech industry is male-dominated and most previous candidates were men, women who applied faced a backlash. However, later Amazon discontinued this program.