Google DeepMind economist sees no AI jobs bloodbath yet, but warns of a layoff cascade

A Google DeepMind economist said he sees no current evidence that AI is causing a broad white-collar jobs bloodbath, including in software engineering, which he described as one of the most exposed sectors. However, he warned that companies could still trigger a self-reinforcing layoff cascade if they feel pressured to cut staff to signal they are adopting AI, even when layoffs may not improve business performance. The piece frames AI as a market and labor-force narrative issue rather than an immediate earnings or price catalyst for a specific stock. It also notes that some companies have already cited AI in workforce reductions, while major AI executives remain divided between productivity optimism and warnings of large-scale job displacement.