Australian telco Telstra plans to cut more than 200 jobs at the carrier’s AI JV with Accenture.
The Guardian reports that 209 jobs will be cut due to the implementation of AI, while other roles will be moved to India.
Telstra formed the AU$700 million (US$495m) JV with Accenture last year.
According to The Guardian, a spokesperson from the JV confirmed that the team had been notified “about proposed changes to its workforce, including reducing roles where work is no longer needed, and moving some work to the JV team in India.”
“These changes would see the JV use Accenture’s global capabilities, advanced AI expertise, and specialist hub in India to deliver Telstra’s data and AI roadmap more quickly,” said the spokesperson.
“We anticipate that over time this would result in improved cost efficiencies and bring an enhanced experience to Telstra’s customers.”
The JV is 60 percent owned by Accenture and 40 percent by Telstra, and will comprise specialists from Telstra and Accenture’s data and AI teams to build on Telstra’s work to create a data and AI ecosystem, modernize its data and AI platforms, and embed responsible AI by design.
Telstra’s CEO Vicki Brady previously stated last year that the telco was keen to “embrace AI,” while hinting that the company would further shrink its workforce by the end of the decade.
The upcoming layoffs are the latest at the carrier, which announced plans to cut 2,800 jobs just under two years ago.
Source – https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/telstra-to-cut-more-than-200-jobs-amid-ai-push/