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Turnitin laid off staff earlier this year, after CEO forecast AI would allow it to cut headcount | TechCrunch

Mar 07, 2024 - news.bensbites.co
Turnitin, a plagiarism detection company, confirmed a small set of layoffs earlier this year, following CEO Chris Caren's prediction last year that AI would enable the company to reduce its headcount by 20% within 18 months. The layoffs are part of broader organizational changes and are not as significant as the 20% reduction Caren had forecasted. Caren had suggested that AI would increase efficiencies, allowing the company to hire high school graduates instead of four-year college graduates for engineering, sales, and marketing roles.

The company's software uses machine learning and AI to detect plagiarism in student writing and is sold to educational institutions. This move follows recent industry trends, such as Klarna's announcement that its AI Assistant can replace 700 workers. Turnitin declined to comment on the exact number of layoffs, citing respect for the privacy of the affected employees.

Key takeaways:

  • Turnitin CEO Chris Caren had previously stated that AI would enable the company to reduce its headcount by 20% within 18 months.
  • Turnitin has confirmed a small number of layoffs, although it is not yet close to the 20% reduction Caren had predicted.
  • Caren suggested that AI would allow the company to hire staff straight out of high school, rather than requiring four-year college degrees, for roles in engineering, sales, and marketing.
  • Other companies, such as Klarna, have also begun using AI to replace workers, with Klarna's AI Assistant reportedly capable of doing the job of 700 workers.
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