tech
Uber COO is ‘tempted to say’ the company will have fewer employees in five years
Uber chief operating officer Andrew Macdonald sees roles that are ripe for AI augmentation but thinks the company could grow in other ways.
TL;DR
- Uber COO Andrew Macdonald is 'tempted to say' the company will have fewer employees in five years due to AI.
- Roles like customer support, sales, content production, and analytics are seen as ripe for AI augmentation and potential replacement.
- Macdonald is cautious about stating a definitive reduction in headcount, noting that AI's impact on employment has been complex.
- Measuring the direct return on investment (ROI) of AI in terms of headcount reduction is difficult because saved time often leads to new tasks.
- Uber's overall head count has increased by 54.4% in the last five years.
- Recent layoffs in the community operations team were partly attributed to embracing AI and simplifying operations.