# AT&T plans further job cuts as it automates network operations

_Published Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 8:11 AM EDT · Infrastructure, Products · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

![AT&T plans further job cuts as it automates network operations — Primary](https://media.wired.com/photos/6aa145e274a1099024c35a52/191:100/w_1280,c_limit/AT&T-Workforce-Shrink.jpg)

AT&T plans to keep reducing its workforce while using AI to automate internal work and retiring its copper landline network, chief technology officer Jeremy Legg told WIRED. The company cut some 2,100 jobs in the first half of 2026. It uses AI for customer service, tower placement and maintenance checks, among other tasks.

Starting next year, AT&T plans to replace physical hardware at thousands of network hubs with DriveNets cloud software so technicians can adjust services remotely. The company says shifting away from copper has saved 660,000 megawatt-hours of electricity since 2024. Retiring copper service generally requires regulatory approval, and some communities have protested the plans.

## Sources

- [WIRED](https://www.wired.com/story/atandt-is-automating-away-its-old-telecom-empire/)

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Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/nkPFQf6Rh8C6MghhXtpQbD
Published: 2026-09-23T12:11:59.596Z
Story chronology: 2026-09-23T10:15:00.000Z
Retrieved: 2026-09-23T14:58:20.310Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)