General Motors is undergoing a fundamental restructuring of its technology workforce. The automaker recently laid off roughly 600 salaried employees—representing more than 10% of its IT department—as part of a deliberate “skills swap.” Rather than a simple headcount reduction, GM is clearing space to hire specialists with deep expertise in artificial intelligence.
Rebuilding for an AI-First Future
This move signals a shift from using AI as a mere productivity tool to building it into the company’s core infrastructure. The company is prioritizing “AI-native” development, moving away from legacy IT roles in favor of specialized capabilities. Key areas of focus for new hires include:
- Data engineering and analytics
- Cloud-based engineering
- Agent and model development
- Prompt engineering and AI-native workflows
The goal is to find engineers who can design systems, train models, and build pipelines from the ground up, ensuring the company remains competitive in a rapidly evolving transportation landscape.
A Broader Software Overhaul
These cuts are part of a larger trend. Over the last 18 months, the company has repeatedly trimmed its white-collar workforce to prioritize high-growth initiatives. In August 2024, for instance, GM cut approximately 1,000 software positions as it began consolidating its technology divisions.
This transformation is being led by Chief Product Officer Sterling Anderson, a veteran of the autonomous vehicle industry. Under his leadership, the company is merging disparate technology businesses into a single, cohesive organization. This shift has led to significant executive turnover, including the departures of top software and AI leaders who previously managed fragmented departments.
New Leadership for a New Era
To fill the expertise gap, GM is aggressively recruiting from top-tier tech firms. Recent additions include Behrad Toghi, an Apple veteran now serving as AI lead, and Rashed Haq, the new vice president of autonomous vehicles. Haq brings deep institutional knowledge from his time at Cruise, the self-driving unit GM is continuing to integrate into its long-term strategy.
GM’s strategy highlights a growing reality for major enterprises: true AI adoption requires more than just new software; it requires a complete reimagining of the workforce. By rebuilding its IT department around generative models and autonomous systems, GM is signaling that the future of the automotive industry will be defined by those who can build AI, not just use it.
