After AI runs smoothly, will outsourcing be terminated? NetEase has refuted this rumor
NetEase refuted rumors regarding its plan to use AI to lay off outsourced employees, stating that the information is false and that recent personnel changes are merely normal business adjustments. Although AI technology has improved the efficiency of certain tasks, many outsourced positions cannot be completely replaced. Global tech companies are facing a wave of layoffs under the guise of AI, with companies like Amazon and Meta announcing large-scale layoffs. NetEase CEO Ding Lei stated that AI has become a core capability in its research and development and operations
On March 18, a rumor about NetEase planning to "use AI to lay off all outsourced employees" spread rapidly in WeChat groups.
Chat screenshots widely circulated on social media show, "NetEase will cut 30% of outsourced staff on April 1," "all layoffs by May 1," and "all outsourced positions in NetEase's Guangzhou R&D design will be laid off," linking these layoffs to AI, claiming that management has been trying to replace human labor with AI. 
In response, NetEase told Wall Street Insight that this information is false.
NetEase stated that the recent personnel changes are merely normal business adjustments and personnel replacements for certain projects, which are part of the company's routine operational management and will not affect the normal operations of the company as a whole or its various business lines.
Regarding such rumors, industry insiders pointed out that while the development of AI technology has indeed improved the efficiency of some basic tasks to a certain extent in recent years, outsourced positions cover multiple dimensions such as technical support, art outsourcing, operational review, and administrative logistics. Many roles involving complex execution and human emotional logic cannot be completely replaced by AI under current technological conditions.
However, it is an undeniable fact that a wave of layoffs under the banner of AI is sweeping through global tech companies.
In January of this year, Amazon announced it would cut approximately 16,000 positions across several offices in its China region, marking the second round of large-scale adjustments following the layoff of 14,000 employees in October 2025. In just three months, this global e-commerce giant has laid off a total of 30,000 employees, accounting for nearly 10% of its global workforce, setting a record for the largest layoffs in its 30-year history.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy stated in an internal letter, "1,000 generative AI applications are on the way, and we really won't need this many people in the future."
Recently, Reuters also reported that Meta is planning a new round of large-scale layoffs, with the proportion of affected employees expected to reach 20% or more of the company's total workforce. This move aims to address the rising costs of AI infrastructure investments and pave the way for AI-assisted work, or even independent completion of tasks.
In the financial report released in February, NetEase CEO Ding Lei also mentioned that AI has become a core capability of its R&D and operations.
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