Snap, Disney, Meta: Over 81,200 layoffs in 2026 – Is AI push risking your tech job security?

More than 81,200 employees have been laid off by 97 tech companies so far in 2026, according to Layoffs.fyi, an independent, real-time tracker of job losses in the technology and startup sectors worldwide.

That figure includes Meta’s plan to cut 10% of its global workforce, or close to 8,000 employees, Reuters reported, citing sources. While Meta declined to comment on the details of the layoffs, it comes on the heels of the Facebook and Instagram owner pumping billions of dollars into beefing up its artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.

In comparison, the total number of layoffs in the entire year 2025 was 1,24,201, according to the tracker.

Artificial Intelligence Support

In fact, a key catalyst for these layoffs is AI-related restructuring; Technology companies are increasingly directing their funds towards automation and efficiency, even if it leads to workforce reductions.

On March 31, Oracle began the process of laying off nearly 30,000 positions, accounting for about 18% of the software maker’s global workforce. The impact was also felt in India, where 12,000 employees were reportedly laid off.

According to the tracker, software and SaaS companies faced the largest number of layoffs, followed by e-commerce companies. Media companies such as The Walt Disney Company and Snap.Inc announced consecutive layoffs last week. Most of these companies are based in the US, while a few have their headquarters in Asia, including India.

Big Tech, Bigger Layoffs

Let’s take a closer look at the companies that are significantly reducing their headcount in 2026:

explode

Snap, the parent company of popular messaging service Snapchat, announced on April 15 that it plans to cut up to 16% of its global workforce. Citing a shift towards AI-driven efficiencies, CEO Evan Spiegel said this reduction will affect approximately 1,000 staff and at least 300 open positions will be closed, according to the CNBC report.

Walt Disney

The Walt Disney Company began layoffs on April 15, with at least 1,000 positions expected to be cut across its marketing teams, studio and television business, which includes Pixar Animation and Marvel Studios, as well as ESPN. “Given the rapid pace of our industries, this requires us to continually evaluate how to foster a more agile and technologically enabled workforce to meet the needs of tomorrow,” Josh D’Amaro, who replaced Bob Iger as CEO in February, wrote, according to an email seen by Reuters.

Epic Games

Epic Games, the video game and software developer that created Fortnite, announced the layoff of 1,000 employees last month. “This layoff puts us in a more stable place, with over $500 million in identified cost savings in contracting, marketing, and closing some open positions,” founder Tim Sweeney wrote in a note.

flipkart

Walmart-owned and Bengaluru-based Flipkart laid off around 400-500 employees last month following its annual performance review. According to a source-based report Economic TimesThe layoffs amounted to roughly 4% of the e-commerce firm’s headcount; this was above the 1-2% he normally left. The exercise affected employees in the operations, engineering and marketing teams.

To obstruct

Block, a fintech company co-founded by Jack Dorsey, announced in February this year that it would lay off more than 4,000 employees, or 40% of its workforce. “We are choosing to change the way we work at a time when our business is accelerating and we see the opportunity to move faster with smaller, highly skilled teams using AI to automate more work,” Block CFO Amrita Ahuja reportedly wrote in a letter to shareholders.

Amazon

Leading multinational technology company Amazon has cut 16,000 roles “to strengthen the organization by reducing layers, increasing ownership and eliminating bureaucracy.” But Senior Vice President Beth Galetti wrote in a post on the website: “…We will also continue to hire and invest in strategic areas and functions that are critical to our future.” In February, Washington PostThe company owned by Jeff Bezos has laid off 300 journalists, or a third of its workforce, due to “collapsing online traffic amid the AI ​​boom.”