Real-Time Indicators

Evidence of AI displacement happening now. CEO quotes, market reactions, layoff trackers, and observable signals that tell us which trajectory we're on.

SaaS Market Collapse — February 3, 2026

Triggered by Anthropic legal AI tool release. IGV had worst month since 2008.

$285 billion
Market Cap Lost
-15% to -21% from recent highs
Drop from High
Affected Companies
Goldman Sachs software basket (-6%)
Financial services index (-7%)
Nasdaq 100 (-2.4%)
IGV ETF (-5.6%, 6th consecutive down day)

Tracking Indicators

Key metrics showing displacement trajectory and market response. Mix of live data (market prices, layoffs) and monthly/quarterly indicators (employment, housing).

Employment

Tech layoffs tracker

5,285 YTD (2026)
Updated: February 4, 2026
Employment

AI-attributed layoffs (2025)

55,000
Updated: December 2025
Employment

Daily layoff rate (2025)

674 people/day
Updated: December 2025
Employment

Entry-level hiring drop

-13% (AI-exposed jobs)
Updated: 2025
Market

IGV Software ETF

-21% from recent high
Updated: February 2026
Market

S&P 500 Software Index

9-month low
Updated: February 2026
Market

AI data center investment

$80B (Microsoft)
Updated: 2026
Workforce

Gen Z AI readiness (AIQ)

22%
Updated: 2026
Workforce

Baby Boomer AI readiness

6%
Updated: 2026
Workforce

Employers regretting AI layoffs

55%
Updated: 2026

Layoff Statistics

2025

245,000

Monthly Breakdown

Jan
21,000
Feb
18,500
Mar
19,800
Apr
22,100
May
20,300
Jun
19,700
Jul
21,500
Aug
18,900
Sep
20,600
Oct
23,400
Nov
24,800
Dec
25,200

By Sector

Cloud & Enterprise45,000+
Semiconductor & Hardware33,900+
Logistics & Automation48,000+
SaaS & Productivity6,750+
Social & Advertising5,100+
Cybersecurity500+
EdTech45% of workforce
Job Platforms1,300+

2026

5,285 (as of Feb 4)

By Sector

All sectors5,285

What Leaders Are Saying

Direct quotes from CEOs and industry leaders about AI displacement timeline, impact, and corporate response.

Warning Signs Timeline

Key events that signaled the acceleration of AI displacement.

Claude Cowork launch

January 12, 2026

Impact: Market anxiety begins

Anthropic announces 11 plugins

January 30, 2026

Impact: Intensified disruption fears

Microsoft earnings miss

Q4 2025

Impact: Stock -10% despite beating revenue

Anthropic legal AI tool

February 3, 2026

Impact: $285B wiped from software stocks

Data sources: Bloomberg, CNBC, Layoffs.fyi, Stanford research, company earnings reports. All data current as of February 2026. This page tracks observable indicators — not predictions.