AT&T Is Automating Away Jobs, and Its Old Telecom Empire
The telecom giant is eager to show Wall Street that it can do more with less. That means fewer employees, less electricity, and increased automation.
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A major telecommunications company is laying off workers and automating jobs using artificial intelligence as it transforms from an older business model to a newer one focused on fiber internet and wireless services. The company is eliminating its energy-intensive copper wire network for landline and DSL service, which is also reducing electricity consumption significantly. This transition reflects a broader trend in the legacy telecom industry, where jobs have been declining for 25 years, but artificial intelligence is expected to accelerate that decline while improving profitability. The company plans to continue hiring for different types of roles such as developing and governing AI systems, though overall headcount is expected to shrink.
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