Disney and Snap Announce More Than 1,000 Layoffs as AI Advances

Generative AI is evolving from a workplace aid into a factor driving corporate workforce restructuring, with the media and technology sectors under particular pressure. The Walt Disney Company has cut spending on traditional television and streaming content in recent years, while Snap faces advertising competition and pressure on profitability. Layoffs at both companies underscore how AI is raising productivity while reshaping creative and software roles.

On April 14, 2026, Disney began laying off about 1,000 employees across ESPN, film, product technology and corporate divisions. Marvel Studios' visual development team was nearly eliminated. On April 15, Snap announced plans to cut about 1,000 more full-time employees, or 16% of its global workforce, and close more than 300 open positions. AI now generates more than 65% of new code and handles more than 1 million internal queries each month. Snap aims to achieve more than $500 million in annualized savings in the second half of the year.