I've never seen more layoffs than the last 12 months. Not even close. Not even during Covid. This AI wave is different. It's not cutting bad companies. It's cutting entire job categories.
At-Risk Roles
Here's the thing. Some roles are getting hit harder than others right now:
- Customer support reps
- Project managers (the status trackers)
- Low-level copywriters
- Junior designers
- SDRs doing manual outbound
- Recruiters doing resume screening
- Data entry and ops coordinators
- "Generalists" with no clear output
Shrinking Fast
And it's not stopping there. These roles are shrinking fast too:
- Engineers who don't use AI
- Marketers who can't ship
- Analysts who only report, not decide
What's Happening
One A-player with AI can replace 5 to 10 average employees. Speed is now a moat. "Headcount" is no longer a flex.
The new rule? If your job is repeatable, spec-driven, or can be turned into a prompt, it's on the chopping block.
What Survives
Look, not everyone is at risk. The people who survive are:
- People who own outcomes, not tasks
- People who use AI to multiply themselves
- People who can make decisions under uncertainty
- People who can sell, lead, or build
Tasks vs. Outcomes
What's the difference between "owning tasks" and "owning outcomes"?
A task-owner writes 10 blog posts a month. An outcome-owner figures out which content actually drives revenue, then uses AI to produce 10x more of it. This is what it means to amplify what works in your business.
The Bottom Line
Founders: Stop hiring for tasks. Start hiring for leverage. Your competitors already are. When you're thinking about your next hire, focus on people who multiply output, not just execute checklists.
Employees: The question isn't whether AI will take your job. It's whether you'll be the one using AI or the one being replaced by someone who does.
Which side are you on?