Fiverr is laying off 250 employees to become an 'AI-first company'

Fiverr, a gig economy platform, is laying off 250 employees, approximately 30% of its workforce, as it pivots to become an "AI-first company." CEO Micha Kaufman described this move as a return to "startup mode," with the goal of transforming Fiverr into a leaner, faster, and more AI-focused organization. The company has already integrated AI into its customer support and fraud detection programs, and Kaufman believes this will allow them to operate with a smaller team. The decision to become an "AI-first company" comes after Kaufman's previous statements in May 2025, where he advised employees to "automate 100 percent" of their work using AI, claiming it would not make them replaceable. However, this advice has now been applied to Fiverr's own employees, leading to the layoffs. While the number of affected employees is smaller than other tech companies, such as Workday's 1,750 job cuts, the impact remains the same: more work will need to be done by fewer people.