BT Group, the U.K.'s largest mobile and broadband provider, plans to cut up to 55,000 jobs by 2030, replacing some with artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
BT's workforce, currently at 130,000, would shrink to as low as 75,000 by the end of the decade as it works to cut costs and digitize operations.
- Approximately 10,000 roles are expected to be automated, primarily in customer service and network management, according to the company.
- BT's CEO, Philip Jansen, has set a target to reduce costs and expenses by £3B ($3.7B) annually by 2025.
- The telecom, which is working to complete a nationwide fiber-optic rollout, has touted the potential benefits of AI in improving customer service and driving business growth.
- Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs analysts predict that generative AI technologies have the potential to automate around 300 million full-time jobs, with two-thirds of jobs in the U.S. and Europe impacted to some extent.
- In a similar move, Vodafone, BT's competitor, also plans to cut 11,000 jobs to strengthen its competitive position.
- Both decisions come amid negotiations for a potential merger between Vodafone and Three, which could result in the U.K. having only three major mobile operators, including O2 and EE.