You've just been fired because of AI—learn what to do next

In October, tech giant Amazon laid off 14,000 corporate employees, citing its largest investment, including in AI. In September, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff revealed that the company had cut 4,000 customer support positions, and said that AI could replace 50% of the company's workforce.

Several companies in the US and Europe, from Accenture and Lufthansa to Klarna, have announced similar plans to become more efficient and agile through AI.

According to a new report from outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, October saw the highest number of layoffs in the US since 2003, with a total of 153,074 people laid off, up 183% from September and 175% from the same month last year. This was the worst year for announced layoffs since 2009.

In this gloomy economic climate, professionals who have lost their jobs due to AI may be considering their next career move; whether they should move to a new industry or profession, or how to strengthen their skills.

Fabian Stefani, Assistant Professor and Permanent Professor of AI at the Oxford Internet Institute, stressed the importance of maintaining "skepticism and scrutiny," as some companies are using AI as a scapegoat for layoffs.

"Is it really due to AI? Even if the company says it's about automation and AI... it could be a case of past misplaced hires, it could be the economic downturn, or there could be a number of other reasons. Advice on what people should do next depends on whether it's actually about automation or something else," Stephanie explained in an interview with CNBC Make It.

According to Stephanie, if the real reason for the layoffs isn't automation, the easiest solution is to find the same or a similar job at another company. For example, if you're a software developer, these jobs are still in high demand at other companies.

However, if your role is gradually becoming obsolete due to AI, it's time to consider upskilling.

AI Literacy

AI literacy is becoming a crucial skill as more and more professionals and recruiters prioritize employees with AI expertise.

In fact, LinkedIn's Skills on the Rise report earlier this year found that AI literacy topped the list of the most popular skills people are adding to their profiles, and also how frequently this category appears among job seekers.

Zhao said, "Just as typing or computer literacy has become a universal requirement for many jobs, AI literacy is likely to become a foundational requirement for jobs in the future."

He further added that people who can "experiment with AI and figure out how to apply it" will be more valuable to businesses.

Stephanie agreed, saying that in her research, she found that demonstrating AI skills shows that you are "in tune with technology" and "ahead of new technology," which is beneficial to employers.

These skills can range from writing prompts to using chatbots, debugging code, or using Co-Pilot.

She added that just as it's important to utilize the skills around you, it's also crucial to develop AI skills that complement your existing expertise.

For example, if you work in business operations, becoming a programmer isn't particularly beneficial because it would require more money and effort.

However, she added that there's always a "nearby AI application." In a business operations environment, learning to communicate effectively with AI and elicit optimal responses is crucial.

There are also some soft skills that AI can't do—it may be adept at debugging code, but it can't effectively manage a team.

Stephanie added, "This could be a skill that could be really useful, because maybe you know a software developer and you want to not only do coding but also manage technical people. It's important to have these complementary skills."