A large American media giant has laid off workers, affecting more than 20% of its workforce, most of whom were Florida-based. The deep cut is just one aspect of the latest trend across the company: replacing humans with artificial intelligence jobs. News organizations now use AI systems to generate short stories, write headlines, and even cut video, work formerly done by writers and editors employed there.
These layoffs are part of a larger move towards mechanization in media, as cost reduction and efficiency become top options that make real-world differences among human beings and local economies.
Florida Employees Among the Most Harmed
Florida, which is home to many news sites and content creation teams, is shouldering a lot of the burden. Journalists, editors, social media editors, and marketers are some of the most at risk as increasingly dry and repetitive content is being handed over to artificial intelligence.
As more people work from home, many of those media jobs have already shifted to lower-cost states like Florida. Now, the jobs are disappearing altogether because businesses like them better with AI systems than they do with full-time employees.
Big Lots Reopens in Florida: A Bright Spot in Retail
While media jobs are in limbo, the retail sector is bringing a glimmer of good news. Off-price chain Big Lots, which closed stores last year after it said it would seek bankruptcy protection, is returning. Now operated by Variety Wholesalers under new leadership, the chain is reopening 78 stores in nine states, some in Florida.
Brandon, Fort Myers, Milton, North Fort Myers, Ruskin, Spring Hill, and St. Cloud stores on June 5 will be reopening their doors. The stores will inject new retail jobs and a dose of cash into local economies that were rebounding from earlier store closures.
The Job Market Is Evolving, Not Just Shrinking
Whereas media career reductions are dire, they’re only one piece of a much bigger trend across the entire American workforce. Technology is taking over much of the work, especially content creation. But whereas it’s taking that over, it’s also creating new needs for expertise in specific areas, specifically technology, data analysis, and AI monitoring.
Meanwhile, the retail and logistics industries still provide fairly stable employment, especially for those who like person-to-person work and human contact.
Keeping Up in an Ever-Changing Market
While Floridians struggle with the reality of this change, flexibility is the future. Those who lost work due to layoffs can pursue reskilling training and education in AI usage or online systems. Furthermore, retail job applicants can find employment in the form of such positions as Big Lots and other expanding chains offer.
As economies continue evolving, understanding where technology is leading us—and learning how to work with it—will be essential to long-term prosperity and job security.
