WiseTech’s AI‑Driven Cut Targets 2,000 Jobs, Leaves Staff in Three‑Month Limbo

WiseTech, the Australian‑listed logistics software firm, announced in February that it would cut 2,000 of its 7,000 employees across 40 countries. The reductions target product development and customer service teams, where up to half of the roles could disappear. The company frames the move as an organisational transformation driven by artificial intelligence (AI), not a simple cost‑cutting exercise.

The founder, Richard White, told investors that an AI agent can learn a human’s job in just 15 minutes and perform it within a few hours. That claim underpins the company’s shift to an AI‑led model, with a co‑founder‑drafted “AI agent credo” promising unlimited capacity.

Employees have been waiting almost three months for confirmation of their status. Staff report daily stress, checking email for any notice while simultaneously being asked to adopt the very AI tools that may replace them. One Sydney worker described the situation as “serious stress and uncertainty.”

More than 300 workers signed a petition on the union‑backed Megaphone platform, demanding transparent communication and competitive redundancy packages. The petition argues that fair severance is a signal of respect and leadership, not merely a cost. Signatories criticize the drawn‑out process as “ridiculous” and unprecedented for a company that announced the cuts publicly.

WiseTech’s spokesperson said the process is “structured and phased,” involving portfolio redesign, new team structures, stakeholder consultation, and finally role selection. No individual decisions have been finalised, according to the company.

The broader context shows AI adoption is widespread but its impact on jobs remains limited. A recent survey of 6,000 firms in the US, UK, Germany and Australia found 69% using AI, yet over 90% reported no change in employment or labour productivity in the past three years.

What it means: WiseTech’s aggressive AI rollout is prompting a large‑scale workforce reduction, but the prolonged uncertainty may erode morale and attract regulatory scrutiny. The company’s next steps—finalising redundancies and demonstrating AI‑driven efficiency gains—will determine whether the transformation delivers on its promise or fuels further employee unrest.