By Rivo Raphaël Chreçant
Publication Date: 2025-11-12 11:32:00
In a surprising twist that defies common expectations about artificial intelligence, IBM’s journey with automation reveals how AI can both disrupt and expand the workforce simultaneously. In 2023, after laying off nearly 8,000 employees due to AI integration—mostly affecting human resources—the tech giant found itself hiring thousands of workers back, underscoring a powerful paradox in the future of work.
How AI Transformed IBM’s Workforce and Boosted Productivity
At the start of 2023, IBM took a bold step by introducing AI to automate repetitive and routine tasks across its support functions. The flagship initiative, AskHR, acted as an AI-powered assistant handling everyday duties like vacation requests, payroll, and employee documentation. This move aimed to automate roughly 30 percent of human resource tasks, improving efficiency and reducing costs.
The results were significant. IBM reported that 94 percent of routine HR tasks were now automated, resulting…