Is AI Taking Tech Jobs—Or Creating More? Inside Alphabet’s Surprising Hiring Plans

Is artificial intelligence just another job killer, or is it paving the way for a new generation of engineers? As the AI revolution rages on, Alphabet—Google’s parent company—is stepping into the spotlight with a bold strategy: keep hiring engineers, even as AI reshapes everything. While tech layoffs and automation fears make headlines, Alphabet’s CEO Sundar Pichai says the future still needs human innovators. Ready to see why? Let’s dive in.

🤖 The AI Paradox: More Machines, More Engineers?

• Alphabet’s Commitment: CEO Sundar Pichai announced plans to grow Google’s engineering base into next year, even after major investments in AI.
• Industry Layoffs and Shifts:
  • Alphabet cut 12,000 jobs (6% of its workforce) in January 2023, with further job cuts signaled in 2024, citing a need to “simplify execution.”
  • AI adoption led some tech companies to replace workers with AI bots, or swap roles for staff with new AI skills.
• Widespread Anxiety: According to a PYMNTS Intelligence report, 54% of U.S. workers believe generative AI brings a “significant risk of widespread job displacement.”
• Surprising Optimism: Pichai sees AI as a productivity booster—freeing engineers from the “mundane aspects” of coding, not replacing them.

Beneath the headlines, a deeper tension is brewing. Companies want to harness AI’s speed and efficiency, but they also need talented people to build, maintain, and improve these tools. The rise of AI means the nature of work is evolving, not disappearing—and those who can wield AI could be tomorrow’s tech stars.

✅ Investing in Humans—and AI: Alphabet’s Playbook

• ✅ AI as a Productivity Multiplier: AI is making engineers “dramatically more productive,” says Pichai. By automating tedious coding tasks, AI lets developers focus on big-picture problems.
• ✅ Talent Transformation: Many tech companies—including Alphabet and payment giant Klarna—are shifting their hires toward employees with AI expertise. Even non-tech leaders are learning to code with AI’s help; Klarna’s CEO is using ChatGPT as his tutor.
• ✅ Reinvesting in Growth: While layoffs and “removing layers” streamline the business, Alphabet isn’t retreating; it’s setting up for a new wave of innovation and speed.

Rather than letting AI take over, Alphabet wants humans and machines working together. That means hiring smart people who can stretch AI’s capabilities, not just replace repetitive work. This could open up opportunities for anyone willing to learn and adapt—whether you’re a seasoned coder or a business leader picking up Python with ChatGPT’s help.

🚧 Challenges on the AI-Driven Road

• 🚧 Ongoing Job Uncertainty: Many workers—especially in tech—eye the AI wave nervously. The PYMNTS Intelligence report shows 74% of daily AI users and 27% of those unfamiliar with platforms worry AI will replace part of their jobs.
• ⚠️ AI’s Imperfections: Even as AI excels at coding tasks, Pichai notes it still "makes basic mistakes" that demand human oversight and creativity.
• 🚧 Leadership Shifts: As more businesspeople learn to code with AI, traditional engineering roles might blur, raising new questions about who does what work in tech organizations.
• ⚠️ Societal Impact: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman warns that up to 70% of jobs could be eliminated by AI; however, he also notes that “jobs get more efficient, and people earn more money and create more.”

The collision of AI-powered productivity and job insecurity defines this moment. Companies must retrain employees and rethink job roles. Experts disagree on if tech gains will be shared widely—or leave many behind.

🚀 Final Thoughts: Opportunity or Threat?

Alphabet’s strategy suggests that, for now, AI isn’t here to steal tech jobs—it’s here to redefine them. But success depends on:

• ✅ Reskilling: Employees (and leaders!) must embrace AI as a tool and learn to co-create with it.
• ✅ Responsible Adoption: Companies have to balance AI-driven efficiency with support for displaced workers.
• 📉 Mind the Gaps: If AI expertise isn’t widespread, the risk of inequality and lost jobs grows.

Whether you think AI is a job destroyer or a force multiplier, one thing’s clear: The tech landscape is changing fast—and those who adapt will shape its future.

What’s your take? Is AI a friend or foe to tech workers? Do you agree with Alphabet’s hiring philosophy?

Let us know on X (Former Twitter)

Sources: PYMNTS. Alphabet to Keep Adding Engineers Despite Investments in AI, June 5, 2025. https://www.pymnts.com/news/artificial-intelligence/2025/alphabet-keep-adding-engineers-despite-investments-ai/