Jack Dorsey Admits AI Behind Block's 40% Workforce Cut
Jack Dorsey, CEO of fintech company Block, openly admitted that AI was the driving force behind the company's decision to lay off 40% of its workforce, more than 4,000 employees. The layoffs reduced Block's headcount from 10,000 to about 6,000. Dorsey said the decision crystallized last December after he and other executives experimented with advanced AI models including Anthropic's Opus 4.6 and OpenAI's Codex 5.3. The layoffs were executed within three weeks of the decision, with Dorsey emphasizing he wanted to act with integrity and generosity rather than waiting until the company was under pressure.