Uber has announced layoffs in its customer service department, citing the evolution of artificial intelligence as the primary reason for this decision. Employees within the community operations team, who have been working remotely, will also be required to return to in-office work three days a week.
The ride-hailing company indicated that it will cut approximately 10% of its community operations team and has mandated remote workers to relocate to the city where Uber’s office is located.
AI Seen as an Opportunity by Uber
A spokesperson for Uber stated that the team was informed on Wednesday about “structural changes aimed at streamlining operations, enhancing in-person collaboration, and facilitating further use of artificial intelligence.”
This move aligns Uber with other companies that have also reduced their workforce this year citing advancements in AI, including Block, IBM, and Snap.
Last month, Uber laid off a quarter of its HR and recruitment staff. These reductions affected less than 1% of the company’s global workforce of about 34,000 employees and were reportedly not related to artificial intelligence.
Uber’s CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, had previously indicated a slowdown in hiring while simultaneously increasing investments in artificial intelligence.
