Laying off people because of AI? That’s the most expensive strategy.

Why AI-driven layoffs often lead into an expensive cycle (cut jobs → quality problems → buy back at high cost), why demographics are turning the calculation upside down in Germany, and which three leadership questions you should answer now. **Links & Recommendations** - [Leaders of AI - Programme](https://www.leadersofai.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=product#mbai-info) - [Leaders of AI - Newsletter](https://www.leadersofai.com/newsletter?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=content) - [MBAI (Master Business with AI)](https://www.leadersofai.com/mbai-solo?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=product) **Sources:** - [Business Insider: Meta lays off hundreds of employees because of AI – these areas are affected (2026)](https://www.businessinsider.de/wirtschaft/meta-entlaesst-hunderte-mitarbeiter-wegen-ki-diese-bereiche-sind-betroffen/) - [Handelsblatt: Human replaces robot – Why Klarna is rethinking customer service (2025)](https://www.handelsblatt.com/finanzen/banken-versicherungen/banken/kuenstliche-intelligenz-mensch-ersetzt-roboter-warum-klarna-beim-kundenservice-umdenkt/100128240.html) - [Business Insider: Already 11,000 jobs cut: Accenture lays off employees who have no AI potential (2025)](https://www.businessinsider.de/wirtschaft/accenture-entlaesst-11-000-mitarbeiter-die-kein-ki-potenzial-haben/#:~:text=Accenture%20schult%20Mitarbeiter%20auf%20die%20Nutzung%20generativer,man%20die%20Personen%2C%20erklärte%20CEO%20Julie%20Sweet.) - [Federal Statistical Office (Destatis): 13.4 million people in the labor force will reach the statutory retirement age in the next 15 years (2025)](https://www.destatis.de/DE/Presse/Pressemitteilungen/2025/08/PD25_N048_13.html) - [German Economic Institute (IW Cologne): Almost 20 million employed people will reach retirement age by 2036](https://www.iwkoeln.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/holger-schaefer-philipp-deschermeier-fast-20-millionen-erwerbstaetige-gehen-bis-2036-in-rente.html)