Many professionals believe moving into artificial intelligence is the safest career choice in today’s fast-changing job market. But a recent survey of 1,552 India-based workers suggests otherwise. Conducted in July 2026 by Blind, the survey reportedly found that 66 per cent of AI and machine learning professionals expect layoffs or major team cuts within the next three to six months. This places them among the most anxious groups, just behind sales and marketing employees at 68 percent.
The findings challenge the idea that AI jobs are more secure. Despite companies investing heavily in AI, those building the tools feel vulnerable. Product and design teams also reported high concern, with 65 per cent expecting cuts. By contrast, engineering teams showed lower anxiety—only 24 per cent said layoffs were very likely, though 58 per cent still fell into the “at-risk” category. Data and analytics professionals were more confident, with just 51 per cent considering their teams at risk and 40 per cent saying layoffs were unlikely.
Perceptions varied across companies. At Salesforce, 81 per cent of employees expected layoffs, followed by Oracle at 80 per cent, Uber at 77 per cent, and PayPal at 75 per cent. Indian software firms appeared more optimistic: only 9 per cent of Zoho employees feared cuts, while Freshworks recorded 44 per cent at risk.
Workers said their concerns often stemmed from indirect signals rather than official announcements. Hiring freezes, budget cuts, project cancellations, and increased use of performance improvement plans were seen as warning signs.
Overall, the survey highlights a paradox: even as AI reshapes industries, those working directly in AI feel nearly as exposed to job insecurity as everyone else.
