Job Cuts Reflect Organizational Restructuring Driven By Automation And Efficiency Rather Than Financial Distress : Anupam Mittal

18th May 2026 at 3:55 PM

2 minutes read

New Delhi : The recent reports of Oracle laying off nearly 12,000 employees in India have triggered concern across the tech industry, but it was Anupam Mittal’s reaction that truly caught people’s attention.

The Shark Tank India judge shared a thought that many professionals found both harsh and real. According to Mittal, these employees were not removed because the company was struggling financially. Instead, he suggested that businesses are rapidly changing because technology is now capable of doing work that once required large teams.

His comment comparing companies to a ship “learning to sail itself” reflects the growing influence of artificial intelligence in the corporate world. Over the last few years, major tech firms have continued investing heavily in AI, automation, and cloud systems, while stimultaneously reducing workforce size. The shift is no longer just about cutting costs; it is about changing how companies operate.

Reports indicate that Oracle’s restructuring is linked to its expanding AI and cloud focused strategy. The layoffs reportedly affected thousands of employees, and there were also claims that offers made to fresh engineering graduates from top colleges were withdrawn.

Mittal also spoke about how different today’s layoffs are compared to earlier economic downturns. During the dot-com crash in early 2000s, companies cut jobs because survival itself uncertain. Today, however many firms announcing layoffs are still profitable and continue to grow financially. That according to him, makes the situation more complicated for employees trying to understand where they stand.

He further criticised the simplistic advice often seen online, where laid off workers are told to “just build an AI startup”. Mittal argued that entrepreneurship is not a guaranteed solution and that starting a business comes with its own risks and uncertainity.

His remarks have resonated with many working professionals because they highlight a difficult truth about the modern workplace. The fear today is not only about companies shutting down, but also about whether technology will slowly reduce the need for certain human roles altogether.

As AI continues reshaping industries, Mittals comments have added fuel to an already growing debate in the future, the biggest challenge may not be finding successful companies, but finding where humans still fi within them.