Tech layoffs threaten ethics and safety teams during industry's year of efficiency.
Large tech companies have been cutting tens of thousands of jobs, including teams focused on election safety, misinformation, and online extremism, as well as ethical AI teams and oversight groups. The cuts have raised concerns about Silicon Valley's commitment to providing extensive guardrails and user protections, especially as transformative new technologies like AI and virtual reality are being rapidly rolled out. Some former employees and experts warn that cutting back on responsible AI work could be bad for business in the long run.