Verizon Exec Urges Transparency on AI Job Losses

Former CEO Dan Schulman says leaders must acknowledge AI's disruptive impact on employment.

Apr. 20, 2026 at 5:18am

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a stack of neatly organized office supplies and electronics, including a laptop, pen, and notebook, floating on a clean, monochromatic seamless background. The objects are made from polished raw materials and clean geometric shapes, using sharp, dramatic studio lighting and deep shadows to represent abstract corporate strategy and the impact of AI on the workforce.As AI continues to reshape the workforce, corporate leaders must balance innovation with transparency about the technology's disruptive impact on jobs.Boston Today

Verizon's former CEO and current strategic advisor Dan Schulman is urging corporate leaders to speak openly about the job losses driven by artificial intelligence, arguing that transparency is essential as companies navigate workforce disruption. Schulman emphasized that honesty about AI-related job cuts should be paired with support for affected employees, pointing to Verizon's $20 million career-transition and retraining fund as a model for responsible workforce transformation.

Why it matters

Schulman's stance contrasts with the prevailing tone among many public company CEOs, who often highlight AI's potential for innovation and growth while avoiding discussion of its role in workforce reductions. His comments come amid growing concern about the scale of AI's impact on employment, with estimates that it could reshape up to half of all U.S. jobs within the next few years.

The details

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Schulman said that while AI presents transformative opportunities, leaders must acknowledge its disruptive impact on employment. 'It's a very difficult time and everyone knows it is,' he stated. 'So I think being authentic, being realistic, telling the truth, as best you can' is crucial. Schulman, who previously served as CEO of PayPal, emphasized that honesty about AI-related job cuts should be paired with support for affected employees.

  • Schulman's comments were published in The Wall Street Journal on April 19, 2025.
  • Verizon launched a $20 million career-transition and retraining fund in 2024, coinciding with the company's decision to cut approximately 13,000 jobs.

The players

Dan Schulman

Verizon's former CEO and current strategic advisor, who previously served as CEO of PayPal.

Andy Jassy

Amazon CEO, who told CNBC in February 2025 that while some roles would be replaced by AI, 'there will be other jobs created.'

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What they’re saying

“It's a very difficult time and everyone knows it is. So I think being authentic, being realistic, telling the truth, as best you can”

— Dan Schulman, Verizon's former CEO and current strategic advisor

“Change is necessary, but it can be difficult”

— Dan Schulman, Verizon's former CEO and current strategic advisor

What’s next

Schulman has recommended unconventional exercises, such as using AI tools to draft their own obituaries or compose poems for loved ones, to help employees grasp AI's personal implications.

The takeaway

Schulman's call for candor highlights a growing tension between innovation and accountability as AI continues to reshape labor markets. While many executives celebrate AI's potential, his message underscores that managing the human consequences of technological change requires both foresight and empathy.