{
  "id": 213013,
  "title": "White House advisor says companies are blaming AI for layoffs because 'it plays better in the press'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/white-house-advisor-says-companies-are-blaming-ai-for-layoffs-because",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-08-06T09:03:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/white-house-advisor-ai-layoffs-washing-michael-kratsios-2026-8"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Michael Kratsios, a senior advisor to President Donald Trump, expressed his surprise at the increasing trend of companies blaming AI for workforce reductions. Kratsios attributed this narrative to the favorable press it garners, stating \"it plays better in the press.\" Heurated to the underlying reasons, Kratsios suggested that such attributions to AI are likely the result of companies \"blaming AI for layoffs that they would have implemented anyway,\" a phenomenon he termed as \"AI-washing.\" Kratsios, who leads the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, remains optimistic about AI's long-term impact on jobs but acknowledges the apprehension surrounding the technology. He emphasized that the public discourse about AI, particularly its potential for job losses and potential dangers, contributes to widespread skepticism. Kratsios, who previously worked closely with Peter Thiel and in Trump's administration, highlighted the industry's growing frustration with what he believes is an overemphasis on the negative aspects of AI.",
  "summary": "AI leaders like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have complained about companies \"AI washing\" their layoffs.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/213013.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Guardian Technology",
        "title": "The White House’s plan to vet potentially dangerous AI is cloaked in secrecy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/the-white-houses-plan-to-vet-potentially-dangerous-ai-is-cloaked-in",
        "published": "2026-08-07T13:00:18.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}