DeepL, a Germany-based artificial intelligence company known for its translation tools and seen as a rival to Google Translate, has announced plans to reduce its workforce by about 25 per cent.

Chief Executive Officer Jarek Kutylowski said the move reflects a “massive structural shift” driven by advances in AI.

In a post on LinkedIn, Kutylowski said around 250 employees would be laid off, adding that the decision is subject to the required legal procedures.

“The decision wasn’t made lightly — it is the most difficult I’ve had to make in my career”, he wrote.

Kutylowski stressed that the decision reflects a “structural choice about how DeepL must operate to remain a global AI leader.”

Job Cuts Driven by AI
Layoffs across the technology sector are increasing as companies adopt AI tools to handle tasks traditionally performed by programmers.

Last month, Meta Platforms Inc. said it would cut 10 per cent of its workforce.

Founded in 2017 as a challenger to tools developed by Google, DeepL is a German AI company that provides translation technology enabling developers to build applications in multiple languages.

Its expanding suite of services has recently positioned the firm in closer competition with ChatGPT and other AI-driven platforms.