Verizon CEO Urges Transparency on AI Job Losses

Verizon’s former CEO and current strategic advisor Dan Schulman is urging corporate leaders to speak openly about the job losses driven by artificial intelligence, arguing that transparency is essential as companies navigate workforce disruption.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal published April 19, 2025, Schulman said that while AI presents transformative opportunities, leaders must acknowledge its disruptive impact on employment. “It’s a very difficult time and everyone knows it is,” he stated. “So I think being authentic, being realistic, telling the truth, as best you can” is crucial.

Schulman, who previously served as CEO of PayPal, emphasized that honesty about AI-related job cuts should be paired with support for affected employees. He pointed to Verizon’s $20 million career-transition and retraining fund, launched in tandem with the company’s decision to cut approximately 13,000 jobs in 2024, as a model for responsible workforce transformation.

“Change is necessary, but it can be difficult,” Schulman wrote in a message to Verizon employees at the time of the layoffs. The fund aims to help workers transition into new roles through reskilling and career counseling, particularly as AI reshapes job functions across industries.

The Wall Street Journal characterized Schulman’s stance as a departure from the prevailing tone among many public company CEOs, who often highlight AI’s potential for innovation and growth while avoiding discussion of its role in workforce reductions. The outlet contrasted his approach with that of Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, who told CNBC in February 2025 that while some roles would be replaced by AI, “there will be other jobs created.”

Nevertheless, several companies have already cited AI as a factor in major staffing reductions. Block, the financial technology company formerly known as Square, laid off nearly half of its workforce earlier in 2025 and warned that similar cuts could spread across the sector. PYMNTS reported that Block’s leadership framed the moves as part of a broader shift toward AI-driven automation in financial services, particularly in areas involving data processing, transactions, and risk analysis.

Schulman’s comments come amid growing concern about the scale of AI’s impact on employment. A report from the Boston Consulting Group cited by The Wall Street Journal estimates that AI will reshape approximately half of all U.S. Jobs within the next two to three years, with up to 15% ultimately eliminated. The analysis suggests that while new roles will emerge, the transition could be disruptive for workers in occupations highly susceptible to automation, such as administrative support, data entry, and certain financial services functions.

To help employees grasp AI’s personal implications, Schulman has recommended unconventional exercises, such as using AI tools to draft their own obituaries or compose poems for loved ones. “Like it or not, we live in the age of AI. I happen to like it,” he said in the Wall Street Journal interview. “It’s like we all wanted to live in the Renaissance or, like, when fire was first invented — how cool would that be? We’re in that stage. We’re just not appreciating it for what it could be.”

The advice reflects a broader effort to encourage workers to engage with AI not only as a threat but as a tool for creativity and self-reflection. By inviting staff to experiment with AI in personal contexts, Schulman aims to demystify the technology and foster adaptive mindsets ahead of broader workplace changes.

Industry analysts note that the current wave of AI adoption follows patterns seen in prior technological shifts. The introduction of personal computers reduced demand for clerical roles but spurred growth in IT, software development, and digital marketing. Similarly, the rise of the internet disrupted traditional retail and media while giving rise to e-commerce and cloud computing. AI, particularly in sectors like financial technology, appears to be accelerating this cycle of disruption and renewal, with automation targeting routine tasks while creating demand for skills in AI oversight, data science, and system integration.

As AI continues to reshape labor markets, Schulman’s call for candor highlights a growing tension between innovation and accountability. While many executives celebrate AI’s potential to boost productivity and create new industries, his message underscores that managing the human consequences of technological change requires both foresight and empathy.