---
id: "quote-anticipatory-layoffs"
type: "quote"
source_timestamps: ["¶4"]
tags: ["layoffs", "anticipation"]
related: ["concept-anticipatory-ai-layoffs", "claim-genai-not-displacing"]
speaker: "Thomas H. Davenport and Laks Srinivasan"
speakers: ["Thomas H. Davenport", "Laks Srinivasan"]
sources: ["execution"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-execution"
originDay: 8
articleStem: "hbr-foci-62-layoffs-ai-potential-not-performance"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/01/companies-are-laying-off-workers-because-of-ais-potential-not-its-performance"
sourceTitle: "Companies Are Laying Off Workers Because of AI’s Potential—Not Its Performance"
---
# Layoffs Are Anticipatory, Not Performance-Based

> What we found is that AI is behind at least some layoffs, but that these are almost completely in anticipation of AI's impact. In other words, the job losses and slowed hiring are real, even though companies are still waiting for generative AI to deliver on its promises.

— [[entity-thomas-h-davenport]] and [[entity-laks-srinivasan]]

The thesis statement in one breath: the layoffs are *real* but the AI justification is *forward-looking*. Anchors [[concept-anticipatory-ai-layoffs]] and [[claim-genai-not-displacing]].