The greater Seattle tech ecosystem—long defined by relentless growth, deep talent pools, and global influence—is hitting a moment of reckoning.
In recent months, a spate of layoffs has rippled across the region, highlighted by Amazon cutting nearly 2,200 Washington-based jobs last week, more than half of them in core product and engineering roles. T-Mobile has announced 393 layoffs in Washington, while Expedia and Meta have also reduced headcount.
These moves are not isolated. They reflect a broader structural shift as companies race to integrate AI, automation, and robotics into their operations—often faster than their organizations, cultures, and people can adapt.
Why This Is Happening Now
After years of aggressive hiring, many tech firms are recalibrating. Generative AI systems now automate tasks once handled by large teams: software testing, customer support, data analysis, marketing optimization, even elements of product design. Robotics and automation are reshaping logistics and hardware operations. The result is a drive for “leaner” organizations—fewer people, higher leverage, more machine-driven output…