AT&T, once a behemoth of the telecommunications industry, is on a mission to automate its way to the future. By 2030, it aims to have shed nearly 40,000 workers, leaving just 85,000 employees. This move is part of a broader strategy to embrace artificial intelligence, cutting costs, and reducing its copper network, which consumes vast amounts of energy.

The company's chief technology officer, Jeremy Legg, believes that the transition to AI will not only save money but also improve service. ‘We’re not going to have the same headcount in five years as we do today,’ he asserts. AT&T is already seeing tangible benefits, with a 13.1% decrease in energy consumption from 2020 to the end of 2025.

However, the road ahead is not without controversy. AT&T’s plan to decommission its copper network, which powers landline telephones and DSL internet, has met with local protests in some communities. The company hopes to retire underutilized infrastructure, freeing up personnel and reducing power usage. ‘There's a bunch of copper out there that probably makes AT&T the fifth-largest copper mine in the US right now,’ CEO John Stankey quipped at a recent conference.

Despite these changes, AT&T is investing in its office culture, offering perks like a summer childcare program and on-site mental health therapists. These initiatives are part of a broader strategy to maintain a positive work environment even as the company downsizes. AT&T views the transition to AI as an opportunity to offer better services while managing costs.