Layoffs linked to changes in corporate AI spending

The cost of building out the infrastructure needed to satisfy booming demand for artificial intelligence is changing the way major companies allocate resources. That can mean an end to some jobs once done by humans. Yet in many cases it means repurposing money once spent on workers so that more capital can be devoted to boosting AI capabilities. Just how much money is being spent on AI is a hot topic as fears of a bubble in the sector grow, but the potential impact on workers in some sectors is clear.Here's a look at some of the companies that have announced layoffs or hiring reductions this year that are tied in some way to massive spending on AI.BarclaysThe U.K. bank and financial services company revealed in a quarterly financial report this week that it is looking to cut 5,000 jobs, or about 5% of its workforce.The company said that it was seeking “organisational simplification and technology change efficiency driven by AI.” Approximately 60% of the cuts will be from support functi