Urooj Niazi 
pakistan faces ai era job losses or upskilling push
Australian tech giant Atlassian has laid off 150 employees as it shifts focus towards Artificial Intelligence (AI). These job cuts mainly affected customer service and support teams, with AI now taking over many of their tasks. The layoffs were announced through a pre-recorded video by Atlassian’s CEO, Mike Cannon-Brookes, leaving employees shocked and disappointed.
On the same day, Atlassian’s co-founder, Scott Farquhar, addressed the National Press Club, promoting AI as the future of work. He said Australia needs to move away from “old jobs” and focus on re-skilling for new technology-driven roles. Farquhar added that people can rely on social safety nets while they transition to new skills — but such luxuries aren’t available in many countries.
For Pakistan, this news is a clear sign of how AI is starting to reshape jobs worldwide. While AI offers exciting opportunities for innovation, it also brings the challenge of job losses, especially in roles that involve repetitive tasks like customer support.
Tech unions in Australia have raised concerns about companies replacing humans with AI without considering the human cost. They are calling for stricter regulations to protect workers.
As AI technology becomes more common, Pakistan must prepare its workforce by focusing on digital education and re-skilling programs. If not, many workers may find themselves left behind in the fast-changing global job market.
Atlassian’s move is a reminder that the AI revolution is not a distant future — it’s already here. The question is: Are we ready for it?
