Companies may not be saying it openly in every earnings call, but a new study suggests what is quietly becoming normal inside boardrooms — if given the choice, many would replace human roles with AI to move faster and cut costs. A survey by ResumeBuilder, conducted in March 2026, shows how strongly this thinking has taken hold.
The study, which included responses from hundreds of senior business leaders in the US, found that a large majority expect job cuts as AI becomes more capable. Many also admitted that spending on AI currently matters more than employee satisfaction, pointing to a clear change in priorities inside companies.
The numbers tell a direct story. Around 9 out of 10 companies indicated they are prepared to reduce their workforce as AI takes over certain tasks. A similar share said they are willing to deal with higher employee exits if that helps them invest more in AI. There is also a sense of timing at play, with hiring slowing down, many companies believe they can make these decisions now without facing immediate pushback from employees.
“This is not reluctant belt-tightening they are willing to absorb turnover and employee dissatisfaction as acceptable costs,” said ResumeBuilder’s Chief Career Advisor, Stacie Haller, adding that companies see AI investment as critical for their future. The survey was taken by 500 leaders.
While the study does not name specific firms, recent developments across the tech industry suggest this is already happening in practice. Several large companies have cut jobs over the past year, often while increasing their focus on AI.
Amazon is a good example of this
Amazon is one such example where this trend is visible. The company recently confirmed layoffs affecting around 16,000 employees as part of an internal restructuring effort. The aim is to simplify decision-making and reduce layers within teams, even as the company prepares for its next phase of growth. At the same time, Amazon is putting considerable weight behind AI, especially through its cloud business, Amazon Web Services (AWS). In a fresh internal meeting, the company’s CEO, Andy Jassy, has said that AI could push AWS far beyond earlier expectations. With the help of AI, the company plans to make about $600 billion in yearly revenue, which is roughly Rs 55,00,000 crore.
“I’ve been thinking for the last number of years that AWScould be about a $300 billion annual revenue I think what’s happening in AI that AWS has a chance to be at least double that,” Jassy said.
The contrast is hard to miss. On one side, job cuts and internal restructuring. On the other hand, aggressive plans are built around AI-driven growth. And Amazon is not alone in taking this approach.
For employees, this creates an uneasy situation. Roles that were once considered stable are now being re-evaluated, and the current job market makes it harder to switch quickly. At the same time, companies appear confident that these decisions will not hurt them immediately.
However, there is also a note of caution. The same study points out that once hiring improves, employees may start paying closer attention to how companies treated their workforce during this phase.
