India, Aug. 21 -- The technology sector is in the midst of a profound realignment, characterised by the paradoxical trends of mass layoffs and hyper-aggressive hiring for a small cohort of AI specialists. This does not seem like a simple cyclical downturn but a proactive, deliberate strategy by tech giants to redirect capital from legacy functions to a "winner-takes-all" battle for supremacy in artificial intelligence.

While major technology firms have laid off tens of thousands of mid-level and nontechnical staff since the start of 2023, they are simultaneously engaged in a high-stakes bidding war for top AI researchers, treating them as "all-star athletes" in a digital arms race. Meta is leading with a mercenary strategy, offering nine...