Virgin Media O2 Plans Thousands of Job Cuts as AI Use Expands

Virgin Media O2 plans to cut thousands of jobs and expand its use of AI as part of an £800 million cost reduction program, according to The Guardian. The telecommunications company expects £300 million of the savings to come from reducing its employee wage bill by 30% over the next two years.

The company did not specify the number of affected positions, but the cuts could reach 25% of its 16,000 employees. Most losses will come from roles that do not directly serve customers.

Virgin Media O2 will increase its use of AI tools in customer service, network planning and fault management. The wider program targets £800 million in annual savings by 2029 and also includes reducing contractor use and reviewing supplier contracts.