A senior White House science and technology adviser criticised some companies for tying layoffs they would have made anyway to artificial intelligence, saying they shift responsibility to AI because it resonates better in the media. Speaking on a podcast, Michael Kratsios said the narrative can help explain job cuts and support share prices. He also said he remains optimistic about AI’s long-term employment impact, while warning against pessimistic messaging that worsens public perceptions.

Apollo Global Management chief economist Torsten Slok said there is no evidence so far that AI is reducing jobs. Citing the ADP National Employment Report, he said private-sector employment is still rising and companies are hiring workers needed to adopt AI. He wrote that demand for AI implementation specialists is increasing and data center expansion is pushing up wages for AI talent and prices for semiconductors, equipment and energy.