An Editorial Analysis from The Craig Bushon Show Media Team
Verizon’s decision to lay off more than 13,000 employees roughly 13 percent of its entire workforce did not come from financial collapse declining revenue or investor panic. It came from something larger and far more permanent
the first major structural realignment of a United States telecom giant in response to artificial intelligence.
The corporate press releases and LinkedIn statements dance around the real cause.
But The Craig Bushon Show does not do corporate spin.
We do not just follow the headlines… we read between the lines to get to the bottom line of what is really going on.
And what is going on is simple
AI is now capable of performing thousands of telecommunications tasks that once required human workers.
AI Isn’t the Future of Verizon It Is the Present
For years telecom companies operated with massive human workforces managing
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customer service
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billing corrections
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retail support
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network diagnostics
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dispatch operations
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fraud analysis
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maintenance scheduling
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outage mapping
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churn prediction
Every one of these categories is now handled or heavily assisted by AI driven systems.
Inside Verizon’s operations today
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AI routes calls
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AI triages customer issues
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AI predicts tower failures
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AI handles billing disputes
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AI updates internal records
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AI assigns field technicians
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AI optimizes 5G network performance
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AI answers basic support questions
The phrase “simplifying operations” in the CEO memo is polite language for a harder truth
The machines can do it faster cheaper and at scale.
The new CEO Dan Schulman is known for replacing manual processes with digital automation during his time at PayPal. His playbook has not changed only the company he runs has.
AI Is Replacing Outsourcing Too
One overlooked detail Verizon is not only cutting internal headcount
It is also reducing outsourced labor.
That means AI is no longer just cheaper than United States workers
its even cheaper than overseas call centers which were once the gold standard for cost savings.
This is the dawn of a new era where
AI beats outsourcing.
The 20 Million Dollar Reskilling Fund Says Everything
Verizon announced a 20 million dollar United States based reskilling and transition fund.
When companies offer reskilling programs its because they are eliminating job categories not temporarily trimming payroll.
The positions being cut are not coming back because
AI is not temporarily replacing work. It is structurally replacing it.
Is This the First Shockwave of the AI Telecom Era
There have been tremors in the industry Vodafone cut 11,000 jobs ATT has automated thousands of tasks and T Mobile trimmed specific departments.
But none executed a sweeping double digit workforce reduction tied to digital automation like Verizon just did.
This is the first large scale United States based AI restructuring that
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impacts more than 13,000 workers
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resets the entire corporate structure
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shifts the company from labor driven to AI driven operations
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signals to Wall Street that telecoms future is automation
This is why analysts see it as a pivot moment not just another layoff announcement.
Telecom companies have used automation before but modern AI only reached enterprise level replacement power in the last few years. Verizon is the first major American carrier to fully lean into that shift.
This moment will be remembered as when AI moved from assisting telecom to transforming telecom and permanently reshaping its labor model.
The Unspoken Future Smaller Workforces Bigger Automation
Based on industry patterns telecom and tech companies will likely shrink workforces by 30 to 40 percent as AI automates back end operations customer interactions and technical support.
Verizon is simply the first domino.
Every other major telecom provider will follow.
The Real Question Americans Must Ask
If AI eliminates millions of service and support roles
If corporations increase profits with fewer people
If automation becomes the backbone of daily operations
Then what happens to the American middle class that relies on these jobs
That is the conversation The Craig Bushon Show intends to keep front and center.
We do not just follow the headlines… we read between the lines to get to the bottom line of what is really going on.
Conclusion
Verizon’s layoffs are not cost trimming not temporary belt tightening and not market panic.
They are the first major shockwave of an AI driven restructuring that will define the next decade of corporate America.
Companies know what is coming.
Workers feel what is coming.
Wall Street is preparing for it.
Washington is not ready.
And The Craig Bushon Show will keep breaking down every layer.
Disclaimer
This op ed represents the editorial analysis of The Craig Bushon Show and is based on publicly available reporting corporate statements and industry trends. It is intended for informational and commentary purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial advice investment guidance or a prediction of future corporate behavior. Readers and viewers should conduct their own research and consult qualified professionals before making financial employment or business decisions. The Craig Bushon Show makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy or completeness of third party data or corporate disclosures.
