From Amazon to Intel, over 100,000 jobs axed in early 2026 amid Automation and AI push

January 2026 has sadly opened with a wave of corporate layoffs, with over 100,000 jobs axed in early New Year amid the automation and AI push. Leading the list is Amazon, which has reportedly eliminated nearly 30,000 corporate roles, continuing its aggressive cost-cutting and efficiency drive across divisions.

On the other hand, Intel has announced one of the most dramatic reductions, cutting 24,000 jobs, roughly 20 percent of its global workforce. The semiconductor giant is restructuring operations amid fierce competition, slowing chip demand in some segments, and a renewed focus on AI-centric manufacturing and design.

Worrisome Layoffs

Logistics major UPS is set to cut 48,000 roles, largely attributed to automation and AI-powered sorting, routing, and delivery optimization systems. While the company has framed the move as a modernization effort, labour groups warn of long-term employment erosion in the sector.

Also Read: Amazon announces fresh layoffs in 2026, cuts 16,000 jobs across corporate teams

In the food processing industry, Tyson Foods has confirmed the loss of 4,900 jobs due to plant closures and consolidation, highlighting that the disruption extends well beyond the tech sector into traditional manufacturing.

AI Replacement Wave

Meanwhile, Meta has cut approximately 1,500 employees as it pivots further toward artificial intelligence, reallocating resources from legacy teams to AI research, infrastructure, and product development.

These developments come on the heels of a staggering 245,000 tech jobs lost globally in 2025, underscoring what analysts describe as the early stages of an ‘AI replacement wave’. While companies insist that AI will create new roles over time, the immediate impact is a shrinking demand for mid-level corporate, operational, and support positions.

As 2026 unfolds, the central question is no longer whether AI will reshape the workforce, but how quickly societies, governments, and workers can adapt to a future where efficiency increasingly comes at the cost of traditional employment.