After AI implementation, will outsourced staff be dismissed? NetEase has denied this rumor.

March 18, a rumor about NetEase planning to "use AI to dismiss all outsourced employees" spread rapidly in WeChat groups. Widely circulated chat screenshots on social platforms show messages such as "NetEase will cut 30% of outsourced employees on April 1," "full layoffs on May 1," and "all outsourced staff in NetEase Guangzhou product research and design will be laid off," linking these layoffs to AI and claiming that management has continuously tried to use AI to replace human labor. In response, NetEase told Wallstreetcn that this information is not true. NetEase stated that the recent personnel changes are merely normal business adjustments and personnel replacements in some projects, and are part of the company's routine operations and management, which will not impact the overall company or the normal operation of any business lines. Regarding such rumors, industry insiders pointed out that although the development of AI technology in recent years has indeed improved the efficiency of some basic tasks to a certain extent, outsourced positions include technical support, art outsourcing, operations review, administrative logistics, and many dimensions. Many positions involving complex execution and human emotional logic cannot be completely replaced by AI under current technological conditions. However, it must be acknowledged that a wave of layoffs under the name of AI is sweeping across global tech companies. This January, Amazon announced another round of layoffs, cutting around 16,000 positions across multiple offices in its China division. This follows the October 2025 layoffs of 14,000 people, marking the second large-scale adjustment. In just three months, this global e-commerce giant has cut a cumulative 30,000 employees—nearly 10% of its worldwide corporate workforce—setting a record for its largest layoff scale in 30 years. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy stated bluntly in an internal memo: "1,000 generative AI applications are on the way. We really won't need so many people in the future." Recently, Reuters also reported that Meta is planning a new round of large-scale layoffs, with the proportion of affected employees expected to reach 20% or more of the total. It is reported that this move aims to cope with the increasing costs of AI infrastructure, and to pave the way for AI-assisted office work and even independently completing tasks. In its February financial report, NetEase CEO Ding Lei also mentioned that AI has become the fundamental core capability in its research, development, and operations. Risk warning and disclaimer The market has risks, and investment should be cautious. This article does not constitute personal investment advice and does not take into account the particular investment objectives, financial situation, or needs of individual users. Users should consider whether any opinions, views, or conclusions in this article fit their specific circumstances. Any investment made based on this article is at your own risk.