Altman sparks backlash with developer tribute amid AI layoffs

Wednesday 18 March 2026 - 08:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Altman sparks backlash with developer tribute amid AI layoffs

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman faced widespread criticism after posting a message thanking software developers at a time when job cuts linked to artificial intelligence are accelerating across the technology sector.

Altman wrote on X that he felt “enormous gratitude” toward people who built complex software “character by character,” adding that it was already difficult to recall the effort involved. He thanked developers for “getting us here.” Many users interpreted the message as a farewell to human programmers and a signal that AI is replacing their role.

The reaction was swift and critical. Some users accused Altman of celebrating technological progress at the expense of workers losing their jobs. Others pointed to the irony that AI systems, including those developed by OpenAI, were trained on code written by the same developers now facing displacement.

The controversy comes as layoffs tied to AI adoption continue to rise. Atlassian said it would cut 1,600 jobs, about 10 percent of its workforce, to focus on AI and enterprise products. Meta is reportedly considering reductions of 20 percent or more of its nearly 79,000 employees, equivalent to around 16,000 positions. More than 45,000 technology jobs have been eliminated globally since the start of 2026, with roughly one in five directly linked to automation and AI.

The backlash also coincided with reports that OpenAI is undergoing a strategic shift. According to The Wall Street Journal, the company is refocusing on coding tools and enterprise clients after spreading resources across multiple projects, including video generation, web browsing and e-commerce features. During an internal meeting, OpenAI executive Fidji Simo told staff the company must prioritize productivity tools for business users and described competition from Anthropic as a serious warning.

Anthropic has gained traction with developers and enterprise customers through products such as Claude Code and Cowork. Both companies are moving toward potential public listings later this year, intensifying competition in the AI sector.

The episode reflects a broader divide in the industry between executives promoting rapid AI development and workers concerned about job security. Critics argue that public messaging from AI leaders risks overlooking the human cost of technological change as companies restructure around automation.