After 15 years at Verizon leading AI initiatives, I was swept up in the latest RIF which was ironic, given that one of my current projects was highlighted in Dan’s recent AI pitch.
I began transitioning responsibilities to a senior colleague, only to be told today that I should now train a new hire in India. Same title as mine, brought on last week, fresh out of a 2021 graduation, yet his resume reads like he mentored Sam Altman. Apparently, “worked exclusively with US companies in India” is the new definition of deep experience.
When I asked my Sr. Director for clarity, the response was : “This is out of my hands. More org and budget changes coming soon.”
Translation: brace yourself, the outsourcing wave is just beginning.
Let’s be clear, Verizon isn’t cutting costs by hiring “cheap labor.” as I see some oblivious people saying, these contracts start at $40 an hour and can climb past $60, often padded with fantasy resumes. The difference is they’re remote, from small towns where overhead is low, while Verizon keeps cashing in here in the US.
So don’t fall for the AI fairy tales or the “Verizon values” slogans. The reality is simple:We U.S. employees are being replaced, while our politicians & news outlets are busy with nonsense and the greedy companies keeps pocketing the profits.