[Report Shows U.S. AI-Related Layoffs in May Hit Record High] According to a report by Challenger, a U.S. employment data company, on June 4, AI was the leading cause of layoffs for the third consecutive month in May, with 38,579 layoffs announced that month. This marks the highest monthly record since Challenger began tracking this cause in 2023, accounting for 40% of all layoffs in May, a significant increase compared to 7% in January, 25% in March, and 26% in April. So far this year, AI-related layoffs have reached 87,714, accounting for 22% of all layoffs in 2026, far exceeding the total of 54,836 AI-related layoffs for the entire year of 2025.