Block, the fintech company behind Square, Cash App, and Afterpay, is laying off more than 4,000 employees (roughly 40% of its workforce) as it shifts toward increased use of artificial intelligence. In a February 26 letter to shareholders, co-founder and CEO Jack Dorsey said “intelligence tools” now allow a significantly smaller team to accomplish more work, faster and better.
The cuts will reduce Block’s headcount to just under 6,000 employees. Dorsey emphasized that the decision was not driven by financial trouble, noting that gross profit continues to grow. Instead, he said the company is restructuring to reflect how rapidly AI capabilities are improving. “Within the next year, I believe the majority of companies will reach the same conclusion,” Dorsey wrote, predicting widespread structural changes across industries.
The move comes amid mounting concerns about how AI will reshape the job market, as companies across the tech sector streamline operations and automate tasks once handled by human workers.
Indeed, uncertainty remains about which roles are most vulnerable. Click through the following gallery to see which jobs may disappear, and which could remain resilient, in the age of automation.