IgniteTech CEO on AI

[wtg]

This CEO laid off nearly 80% of his staff because they refused to adopt AI fast enough. 2 years later, he says he’d do it again

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ceo-laid-off-nearly-80-185033733.html

[ShiroKuro]

That headline is rather misleading:

replacing nearly 80% of staff within a year, according to headcount figures reviewed by Fortune.

In the months since, Vaughan told Fortune in an early 2026 statement, the company has only kept growing its headcount, recruiting globally for AI Innovation Specialists across every function, from marketing to sales to finance to engineering to support.

[wtg]

I didn't find it misleading. He did fire 80 percent of his staff - that's the headline. In the body of the article they say that he replaced those folks, and then added some.

I could see if you thought the article was about one of those companies who fired people and replaced them with AI, that it could be confusing.

[ShiroKuro]

@wtg said in IgniteTech CEO on AI:

one of those companies who fired people and replaced them with AI

That headline gave me this exact impression.

Yes, of course when you read the article, it's clear, but I think the headline should have said "replaced" not "fired."

Certainly, for those who lost their jobs, it's awful and that others were hired after them is not going to provide any comfort.

But in the discussion of whether AI will just take jobs, or also create new ones, the distinction matters a great deal.

[ShiroKuro]

@wtg this isn't a criticism of you, just an observation. The headline also reads more like click bait because of how it's worded.

[wtg]

I didn't take it as a criticism.

I agree the headline is click bait-ish, but for me that's pretty much a given these days and I just plow through and read the article to get the real meaning and to see if there is anything of (factual) value.

I've given up the fight for well-written journalism.

[ShiroKuro]

@wtg said in IgniteTech CEO on AI:

I've given up the fight for well-written journalism.

I know what you mean. Isn't that awful.

[Mik]

I continue to advocate for my daughter to get ahead of the curve in using AI for project management. I use it every day in my work and find it invaluable.