General Motors (GM) is undergoing a significant restructuring of its information technology department, leading to a reduction of over 10% in its IT workforce, impacting around 600 employees. The automotive giant is reallocating resources to focus on acquiring talent with expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) and related advanced technologies.
GM's Strategic Shift to AI
The company confirmed that this move is part of its broader strategy to transform its IT organization and prepare for a future increasingly shaped by AI. Instead of merely using AI tools, GM is actively seeking professionals who can create and develop AI technology.
New roles GM plans to fill include positions in AI-native development, data engineering and analytics, cloud-based engineering, and the development of AI agents and models, including prompt engineers. This indicates a deep commitment to integrating AI capabilities into the core of its operations and product development.
Leadership Changes and New Hires
The restructuring follows significant changes within GM's software division since Sterling Anderson joined as chief product officer in May 2025. Anderson has been instrumental in merging GM's various technology units into a unified organization.
This transition has seen several senior software executives depart, including Baris Cetinok, Dave Richardson, and Barak Turovsky, GM’s former chief AI officer. Concurrently, GM has brought in new AI-focused talent, such as Behrad Toghi, who previously worked on major projects at Apple, as its new AI lead. Rashed Haq has also been appointed as vice president of autonomous vehicles, further strengthening the company's tech efforts.
Wider Industry Impact and Layoff Trends
GM's decision aligns with a broader trend observed across the tech sector in 2026, where AI-driven restructuring is leading to substantial workforce changes. Reports indicate that nearly 40,000 jobs were lost in April 2026 alone, with major IT and tech companies like Meta, Amazon, Oracle, and Snap implementing layoffs.
This pattern underscores how businesses are rapidly revamping their workforces, prioritizing employees with advanced AI, automation, and data-focused skills as AI becomes mainstream. Cognizant is also reportedly planning a layoff affecting over 15,000 employees globally, highlighting the widespread impact of this technological shift.