17 april 2026 · 13:09

Tech Layoffs, TSMC Profits, Google AI for Science & Pentagon Ethics

The State of Tech — The European Edition of Friday 17 April 2026: Tech companies accelerate AI-driven layoffs, with 25,000-51,000 jobs cut globally since January as firms reallocate budgets toward automation. TSMC posts record profits, proving chip manufacturers—not AI model makers—capture the most value from the AI boom, raising concerns about Europe's semiconductor ambitions. Google launches a $30 million AI for science fund, integrates Gemini into Pentagon systems with ethical safeguards, and new research reveals AI boosts productivity but erodes user confidence in their own thinking.