Dow: 4,500 Job Cuts for AI and Automation

Chemical giant Dow Inc. announced on January 29, 2026, the cutting of 4,500 employees (about 13% of its workforce). The reason is a strategic shift towards production automation and AI process implementation. The restructuring aims to boost profit by $2 billion.

This is one of the starkest examples of "Industry 4.0" moving from theory to harsh practice. Big business no longer hides that investments in algorithms and robotics are funded by payroll savings. Dow sets a precedent for the entire US industrial sector.

Source: Dow Inc. / Reuters