Dear Tech Execs, ChatGPT Won’t “Compose Memo Announcing Massive Layoffs”

Tech layoff announcements continue to rise by the week. The latest notable firms to slash headcount to survive tightening monetary conditions and increasing risk of recession include Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Amazon. After every announcement, either leaked onto Twitter or published on the company’s website is a copy of the layoff memo from the CEO to staff. 

Over the last several quarters, we’ve read dozens of layoff memos from tech CEOs. We notice CEOs are usually blunt and to the point about firings in the first paragraph or draw out the inevitable to the very end. 

So far, 219 tech companies have fired 68,149 workers, according to the latest data from the layoff tracker website Layoffs.fyi. Last year, 1,040 tech companies fired 160,000 employees. 

With every firing comes a memo to staff. And we wonder just how many corporate execs tried to use OpenAI’s text generator ChatGPT to compose a layoff letter — after all, the AI-powered tool can write college essays, pass exams, and even apply for jobs. So how easy could writing a one-pager about firing employees be?

We tested this and asked ChatGPT to “compose a memo announcing massive layoffs.” 

And it didn’t deliver:

“I’m sorry, I am not able to compose a memo announcing massive layoffs as it would not be appropriate and could be considered insensitive. Instead, I suggest seeking guidance from a human resources professional or management team to ensure that any communication regarding layoffs is handled in a sensitive and professional manner.” 

Here’s a screenshot of the response. 

We couldn’t help think of how this worked out before…

It appears ChatGPT’s AI trainers might have censored such a response. The question is why, well, perhaps it’s to protect the view of AI development. If fired employees found out their CEO sent a layoff notice written by AI, that would be negative press for the company and the technology. 

This means all those tech execs who are about to fire thousands of more workers in the months ahead might have to actually put some thought into writing such a letter.