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At Oracle, AI is no longer just used to sell the cloud. It also serves to justify the social restriction of rare violence. In early April, the group began a wave of global layoffs, announced in a dawn email, amid massive spending on its data centers and mounting pressure on its cash flow.
In short
- Oracle is cutting its workforce even as its revenue grows.
- AI is now absorbing an increasing share of budgets and decisions.
- Technology is entering a phase where growth no longer guarantees jobs.
Brutal wave, done cool
While some companies like OpenAI are rising to spectacular accolades, others are brutally cutting back on their workforce. Oracle has begun cutting thousands of jobs in several countries. According to The Independent and Business Insider, up to 30,000 employees could be affected by the operation, with the emails being sent around 6am local time. The tone left little room for doubt. For several employees, it all resulted in a sentence as succinct as it was brutal: “Today is your last day at work.”
However, an important nuance must be maintained. Oracle has not publicly confirmed the total number of 30,000 job cuts. Reuters is talking about thousands of layoffs at this stage and is reporting a legal notice filed in Washington state regarding 491 eliminated positions effective June 1.
Even with this caution, the scale is already startling. Oracle had 162,000 employees in 2025. If the high estimate of 30,000 is confirmed, this would represent about 18% of the workforce. At this level, we are no longer talking about editing. We are talking about an industrial shift.
Oracle: solid results but tight cash flow
The most embarrassing part is elsewhere. Oracle isn’t laying off because its business is collapsing. The group in March posted a fiscal 2026 third quarter that was described as an “exceptional quarter” with revenue up 22% to $17.2 billion. The cloud continues to drive the engine.
But Wall Street remains nervous. At the end of March, Oracle shares were still down 29% year-to-date despite an immediate rebound after the cut announcement. The paradox is clear: revenues are growing, but the market is worried about the costs of the artificial intelligence plant.
This concern comes primarily from data centers. In early February, Oracle announced its intention to raise $45 billion to $50 billion in debt and equity to fund the expansion of its cloud infrastructure. What is at stake at Oracle therefore goes beyond simply cutting costs. AI becomes the budget arbiter. When a company has to choose between keeping teams or funding its computing capacity, the priority is now machines, chips and data centers. The staff come after.
The signal sent by the Oracle is brutal but clear. In technology, rising incomes no longer protect jobs. A “good” company can lay off massively if they believe AI promises better returns tomorrow. This is probably the real turning point: AI is no longer just a product. It becomes managerial logic, almost a doctrine. But this shift carries with it its share of dangers. A DeepMind study highlights six main vulnerabilities of AI agents.
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Fascinated by Bitcoin since 2017, Evariste has been constantly researching the topic. While his initial interest was in trading, he now actively seeks to understand all developments focused on cryptocurrencies. As an editor, he strives to consistently produce high-quality work that reflects the state of the industry as a whole.
DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and should not be construed as investment advice. Before making any investment decision, do your own research.
