Many technology employees view roles in artificial intelligence as a secure path amid advancing AI tools. Yet a recent US study indicates that professionals already in AI fields may share similar layoff worries as those in other sectors.
A survey of 1,552 workers based in India by the anonymous professional app Blind revealed that 66 percent of those in AI and machine learning positions anticipate a layoff or major team reduction within three to six months.
Concern levels matched those in sales and marketing as well as product and design, showing AI positions are not seen as protected from job cuts.
Sales and marketing showed the highest layoff expectations at 68 percent, followed by AI and machine learning at 66 percent and product and design at 65 percent.
The results indicate that AI and machine learning roles, despite their appeal with global AI adoption, do not necessarily reduce job insecurity. Professionals in these areas feel nearly as vulnerable as those in functions most prone to AI disruption.
Engineering emerged as one of the safer fields, contrary to expectations that AI would impact it first. Only 24 percent of engineers viewed cuts as very likely, the lowest rate, with overall concern at 58 percent below the survey average.
Data and analytics roles showed 51 percent at-risk sentiment, with four in ten workers deeming cuts unlikely. These functions, once thought replaceable by AI, appear more secure than AI development teams.
Company differences were notable, with Salesforce at 81 percent and Oracle at 80 percent highest, followed by Uber at 77 percent and PayPal at 75 percent. Indian firms Zoho at 9 percent and Freshworks at 44 percent reported lower concern.
Workers cited hiring freezes at 27 percent and budget or headcount cuts at 24 percent as key signals, while formal announcements accounted for only 9 percent.
