AT&T Plans 85,000-Employee Workforce by 2030 as AI Drives Automation

AT&T is accelerating a workforce transformation that could shrink its employee base to approximately 85,000 by 2030, down from nearly 131,000 as of mid-2025, as the telecommunications company automates legacy operations and retires decades-old infrastructure.

The company has already eliminated more than half its workforce over the past decade and cut 8,000 positions last year alone. In the first half of 2026, AT&T shed another 2,100 jobs, according to details first reported by WIRED.

"We're not going to have the same headcount in five years as we do today," AT&T Chief Technology Officer Jeremy Legg told WIRED. The company is benchmarking itself against competitors Verizon and T-Mobile, both of which have also reduced staff recently. AT&T generated less revenue per employee last year than either rival, according to public financial disclosures.

Automating Paper-Based Legacy Systems

AT&T is deploying artificial intelligence across operations that still rely on manual processes and paper records. The company now uses AI for customer service, cell tower site selection, network maintenance diagnostics, and software code generation. A generative AI system called GeoModeler automatically adjusts network settings during extreme weather events.

Starting in 2026, AT&T will replace physical hardware at thousands of central hubs with cloud-based software from Israeli startup DriveNets, enabling remote configuration changes. The shift is expected to eliminate numerous middle management and junior developer positions as automation reduces the need for hands-on technical work.

Decommissioning the Copper Network

AT&T is simultaneously retiring its energy-intensive copper wire infrastructure that has powered landline telephone and DSL internet service. By year-end 2025, the company expects to no longer be required to offer copper service in more than 85 percent of its existing footprint, pending state and federal regulatory approvals.

The copper retirement has generated local protests in some communities concerned about losing service alternatives, particularly in rural areas. However, AT&T Chief Financial Officer Pascal Desroches described the move as essential to "retire underutilized infrastructure" consuming significant power and personnel resources.

The company reported a 13.1 percent reduction in total energy consumption from 2020 through 2025. Since 2024, eliminating copper infrastructure has saved 660,000 megawatt-hours of electricity—enough to power roughly 65,000 homes annually. CEO John Stankey noted at a Goldman Sachs conference that AT&T's remaining copper likely makes it "the fifth-largest copper mine in the United States."

Why It Matters

AT&T's transformation illustrates how established enterprises are restructuring around AI capabilities while managing the social and operational costs of automation. The company handles approximately 15 percent of global internet traffic and has operated for 150 years, making its workforce strategy a bellwether for how legacy industries balance innovation with employment. The shift also highlights tensions between efficiency gains—including substantial energy savings—and workforce displacement, a dynamic that will intensify as AI tools become more capable across sectors.

Preparing for Satellite Competition

The company is positioning its fiber and wireless networks as core assets for the AI era while monitoring competition from SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service. AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile are collaborating on satellite service options and may work with multiple providers, including potentially Starlink. Legg believes fiber will remain more cost-effective than satellite in most scenarios.

Internally, AT&T has mandated five-day office attendance for most workers and invested heavily in workplace amenities, including childcare programs and mental health services, to support culture during the transition. The company expects to continue hiring for new roles focused on developing and governing AI systems, even as overall headcount declines.

These details were first reported by WIRED.