- Oracle cut 21,000 jobs in the past year as part of its shift towards AI technologies.
- General Motors (GM) has introduced around 50 collaborative robots, or "cobots," at its Factory Zero plant in Michigan as part of its push toward greater automation.
- The rollout of these cobots has reportedly coincided with more than 1,000 job losses at the facility.
- Labour unions, including the United Auto Workers (UAW), have raised concerns over job displacement and have filed grievances over the increased use of automation.
- Oracle acknowledged that workforce changes can be "disruptive," including increased restructuring costs and reduced productivity.
Oracle Corp has reduced its workforce by 21,000 employees over the past year, reflecting a 13% decline as the company shifts towards AI technologies. The total headcount fell from 162,000 to 141,000 full-time employees as of May 31, 2026.1
The company allocated $1.8 billion for restructuring costs, significantly up from $374 million the previous year, as it balances cost control with heavy investments in AI-driven data center expansion for clients like OpenAI. Oracle stated, "The adoption and deployment of AI technologies across our operations have resulted, and may continue to result, in reductions to our workforce."
Meanwhile, General Motors (GM) has introduced around 50 collaborative robots at its Factory Zero plant in Michigan, coinciding with over 1,000 job losses. The cobots are designed to enhance safety and productivity without replacing human labor. However, labor unions, including the United Auto Workers (UAW), have expressed concerns over job displacement and filed grievances regarding increased automation.234
As both companies navigate the complexities of automation, they face challenges in maintaining employee morale and retaining skilled workers amidst significant workforce reductions.
“Oracle has cut 21,000 jobs in the past year as part of its shift towards AI technologies. Meanwhile, GM has introduced 50 collaborative robots at its Factory Zero plant, raising concerns from labor unions about job displacement.”
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