Fortune Magazine Is Not Hiding Its AI Skepticism
January 12, 2026
Another dinobaby post. No AI unless it is an image. This dinobaby is not Grandma Moses, just Grandpa Arnold.
Fortune Magazine appears to be less fearful of expressing its AI skepticism. However, instead of pointing out that the multiple cash fueled dumpster fires continue to burn, Fortune Magazine focuses on an alleged knock on effect of smart software.
“AI Layoffs Are Looking More and More Like Corporate Fiction That’s Masking a Darker Reality, Oxford Economics Suggests” uses a stalking horse to deliver the news. The write up reports:
“firms don’t appear to be replacing workers with AI on a significant scale,” suggesting instead that companies may be using the technology as a cover for routine headcount reductions.
The idea seems to be a financially acceptable way to dump people and get the uplift by joining the front runners in smart use of artificial intelligence.
Fortune’s story blows away this smoke screen.
Are you kidding, you geezer? AI is now running the show until the part-time, sub-minimum wage folks show up at 1 am. Thanks, Venice.ai. Good enough.
The write up says:
The primary motivation for this rebranding of job cuts appears to be investor relations. The report notes that attributing staff reductions to AI adoption “conveys a more positive message to investors” than admitting to traditional business failures, such as weak consumer demand or “excessive hiring in the past.” By framing layoffs as a technological pivot, companies can present themselves as forward-thinking innovators rather than businesses struggling with cyclical downturns.
The write points out:
While AI was cited as the reason for nearly 55,000 U.S. job cuts in the first 11 months of 2025—accounting for over 75% of all AI-related cuts reported since 2023—this figure represents a mere 4.5% of total reported job losses…. AI-related job losses are still relatively limited.
True to form, the Fortune article tries hard to not ruffle feathers. The write up says:
recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms that the “low-hire, low-fire” labor market is morphing into a “jobless expansion,” KPMG chief economist Diane Swonk previously told Fortune‘s Eva Roytburg.
Yep, that’s clear.
Several observations are warranted:
- Companies are dumping people to cut costs. We have noticed this across industries from outfits like Walgreen’s to Fancy Dan operations like American Airlines.
- AI is becoming an easy way to herd people over 40 into AI training classes and using class performance to winnow the herd. If one needs to replace an actual human, check out India’s work-from-Bangalore options.
- The smoke screen is dissipating. What will the excuse be then?
Net net: The true believers in AI created a work related effect that few want to talk about openly. That’s why we get the “low hire, low fire” gibberish. Nice work, AI.
Stephen E Arnold, January 12, 2026
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