Where Does This Number Come From?
The 66% figure comes from a recent survey of India-based professionals by the anonymous networking platform Blind. The study, conducted in July 2026, found that two-thirds of employees working in artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) roles
expect a layoff or significant headcount reduction in their teams within the next three to six months. This placed AI professionals as the second-most anxious group in the tech workforce, just behind sales and marketing staff (68%). The finding is paradoxical; while demand for AI skills is booming, the very people building these technologies are concerned about their job security. This highlights a growing sense of uncertainty across the entire technology sector, where companies are trying to balance major investments in AI with simultaneous efforts at cost optimisation and workforce restructuring.
Anxiety vs. Actuality
It is essential to distinguish between employee sentiment and executive action. The survey from Blind measures the feelings and expectations of employees, not the confirmed plans of employers. While this sentiment is a valuable indicator of workforce morale and anxiety, it's not a formal forecast. Conversely, surveys of CEOs often paint a more complex picture. For instance, while a recent PwC survey showed a quarter of global CEOs expect to reduce staff due to AI, it also noted that many may offset these cuts with new hires in other areas. In fact, 56% of technology CEOs in that same survey anticipated hiring in 2024 despite some AI-related reductions. Similarly, a 2025 KPMG CEO Outlook revealed that while leaders are cautious about the global economy, 83% of CEOs in India remain confident about their own company's growth over the next three years, with the majority anticipating an increased workforce. This shows a gap between the internal anxiety employees feel and the broader, often more optimistic, long-term plans of corporate leaders.
Reading Between the Lines: Job Transformation, Not Elimination
The fear of job losses often overlooks a more critical trend: job transformation. Many experts and even CEOs argue that AI is more likely to change jobs rather than eliminate them entirely. Around 70% of CEOs believe AI will require their employees to develop new skills within the next three years. This focus is on upskilling and adapting roles to work alongside new technologies. Some companies that made layoffs with an AI rationale later found they had to rehire for similar positions, suggesting that replacing human roles is not as simple as it sounds. One analysis found that 55% of business leaders who made redundancies due to AI later felt the wrong decisions were made. The real story isn't just about jobs being lost, but about the nature of work evolving. Entry-level roles may be reshaped, and the skills required for all positions are shifting, but this is a far cry from the mass unemployment that headlines often suggest.
What Should Employees Actually Do?
Instead of panicking over a single statistic, the current environment calls for a proactive approach to career management. The widespread discussion around AI and job changes should be seen as a signal to invest in personal and professional development. Rather than fixating on the possibility of being replaced, focus on becoming irreplaceable through continuous learning. This means identifying the skills that are complementary to AI—such as critical thinking, strategic planning, creativity, and complex problem-solving. Understanding the trends within your industry is more valuable than reacting to every new survey. Leaders are more concerned with finding qualified talent to navigate the AI transition than they are with wholesale cuts. The challenge for employees is to position themselves as part of the solution, not part of the problem that automation is perceived to solve. This means embracing change, actively seeking training opportunities, and demonstrating adaptability.
