AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT XAI

Palo Alto, California-based xAI, the artificial intelligence company founded by Elon Musk, has announced a major reduction in force among its data annotation team responsible for training its Grok chatbot and helping the software to understand and contextualize questions and answers.

The reduction in force abruptly impacted 500+ employees who will receive compensation through the end of their contracts or until November 30, 2025, whichever comes first

A company spokesperson noted, "After a thorough review of our Human Data efforts, we've decided to accelerate the expansion and prioritization of our specialist AI tutors, while scaling back our focus on general AI tutor roles. This strategic pivot will take effect immediately. As part of this shift in focus, we no longer need most generalist AI tutor positions and your employment with xAI will conclude."

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life, nor promises of a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, at any time, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT ARM

Cambridge, England-based Arm Ltd., a semiconductor chip producer and software design company specializing in CPU chipsets, has announced a major cost-cutting reduction in force that will impact between twelve- to fifteen percent of its workforce, or an estimated 1,000 employees located in the United States and the United Kingdom.

The decision appears to follow the failure of the acquisition of ARM by chipmaker NVIDIA due to global regulatory resistance on anti-trust grounds. NVIDIA will remain a major ARM licensee.

According to a company spokesperson, "Like any business, ARM is continually reviewing its business plan to ensure the company has the right balance between opportunities and cost discipline. Unfortunately, this process includes proposed redundancies across Arm’s global workforce."

Japanese conglomerate Softbank appears to be proceeding with its backup plan of taking ARM public -- which might mean greater employee layoffs

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? IS THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL AT IBM AS THEY SPINOFF KYNDRYL

Armonk, New York-based IBM, the iconic computer manufacturer, software developer, and technology services provider, has announced the spinoff of its "Independent Managed Infrastructure Services Business" into a new entity to be named Kyndryl by the end of 2021. The new company will be headquartered in New York City, New York.

In announcing the spinnoff, the enterprise was described as a service company that "designs, runs and modernizes the critical technology infrastructure of the world's most important businesses and institutions."

In his best corporate-speak, the first Chief Executive Officer of Kyndryl, Martin Schroeter, said, "Kyndryl evokes the spirit of true partnership and growth. Customers around the world will come to know Kyndryl as a brand that runs the vital systems at the heart of progress, and an independent company with the best global talent in the industry. The decision to base our corporate team in one of the world's most vibrant and global urban centers underscores our commitment to the economic health of cities."

This split may impact the workforce in unknown ways as employees are split between the companies.

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?