‘AI-washing’ and ‘forever layoffs’: Why companies keep cutting jobs, even amid rising profits

In many industries, AI is far from delivering on its promises of massive productivity gains that make humans obsolete. But one thing is clear: The technology is absolutely terrifying workers. A survey of nearly 5,000 Americans this summer found that 71% of them are worried that artificial intelligence will put too many people out of work permanently. Those concerns reflect what companies are saying: About 40% of employers expect to cut their workforces in response to AI automating tasks. 

But the reality is a bit more complicated.