Uber Cuts 3,300 Jobs as Company Reshapes Business for Robotaxi Future

Uber is cutting about 3,300 jobs, or roughly 10% of its global workforce, in its biggest round of layoffs since the COVID-19 pandemic as the company tries to simplify its operations and prepare for the rise of robotaxis.

Uber is laying off about 3,300 workers. That is roughly 10% of its global staff, marking the largest round of cuts since the pandemic. The company had about 34,000 employees at the end of last year.

CEO Dara Khosrowshahi explained the move in a direct note to staff. Interestingly, he did not blame artificial intelligence. In an industry where tech leaders often point to algorithms as the excuse for pink slips, this was a rare moment of honesty. Instead, he pointed to the company’s own weight.

During years of rapid growth, Uber built up thick layers of management. Now, that complexity is slowing down decision-making just as the company faces a new, massive threat: the rise of autonomous robotaxis.

“A leaner organization will mean clearer ownership, faster decisions, and more time spent building rather than coordinating,” Khosrowshahi wrote. He added that the savings from these cuts will be reinvested into the innovations that will matter most in the coming years.

The overhaul is highly specific. Uber is cutting the number of employees who sit seven or more reporting layers below the CEO by 20%. It is also slashing the number of tiny teams with only one or two direct reports by nearly half.

For the workers who remain, the daily routine is changing too. The company will limit fully remote roles to just 1% of its staff, while keeping its rule that most employees must be in the office three days a week. Teams are being combined, and staff will be concentrated around key city hubs.

The math makes sense on a corporate spreadsheet. A lighter, faster company is better equipped to fight off self-driving rivals.

But behind the business strategy are 3,300 people who suddenly have to pack up their desks. They helped build a global empire. Now, they are being asked to step aside so the company can run faster toward an uncertain future.