Curated and analyzed by the JobGoneToAI team. Original reporting by el-balad.com.
Sam Altman Warns Against Misuse of AI as Justification for Job Cuts

— el-balad.com
Key Takeaway
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, criticized companies for misusing AI as a justification for layoffs, suggesting that many layoffs attributed to AI are actually due to other motivations. He highlighted that while AI is impacting jobs, it should not be blamed for all job losses.
From the Original Report
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Sam Altman Accuses Companies of Misusing AI to Justify Layoffs
Business
Sam Altman Accuses Companies of Misusing AI to Justify Layoffs
Bassyonni
Published: February 21, 2026 4:53 PM ET
Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, expressed concerns about the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) as a justification for corporate layoffs. Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit during an interview with CNBC-TV18, Altman suggested that companies may be using AI as a convenient scapegoat. This trend could be masking the real reasons behind job reductions across various sectors.
AI as a Scapegoat for Layoffs
Altman pointed out that while AI has evolved to be a significant part of the tech landscape, it should not be blamed solely for recent layoffs. “There’s some AI washing where people are blaming AI for layoffs that they would otherwise do,” he stated. His remarks highlighted a crucial distinction between genuine job displacement caused by AI and layoffs that have other motivations.
Statistics on AI and Employment
This is an excerpt. Read the full article at el-balad.com.
Original Source
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