What ClickUp’s mass layoff tells us about the future of work

techcrunch.com May 25, 2026

What ClickUp’s mass layoff tells us about the future of work

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · May 25, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

ClickUp, a collaboration software startup valued at $4 billion, laid off 22% of its workforce, citing a radical embrace of AI as the reason. The company introduced 3,000 internal AI agents to handle complex tasks, expecting staff to direct these agents and review output. ClickUp's CEO, Zeb Evans, aims to use AI to propel the company to the next level, with plans to introduce million-dollar salary bands for employees who create outsized impact using AI. The move is part of a larger trend, with 80% of companies using autonomous tech cutting jobs, according to a Gartner survey. ClickUp claims to be seeing productivity gains from AI agents, which will be included in a forthcoming product for customers, and is gearing up to measure value created and time saved.

💡 Why It Matters

· ClickUp's approach highlights the potential for AI to concentrate wealth and power among a select few who can effectively harness it.
· As companies like ClickUp prioritize AI-driven productivity, workers who fail to automate their functions may be left behind.

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