In the latest episode of TechCrunch's "Equity" podcast, Box founder Aaron Levie points out that CEOs who decide to replace human jobs with AI often lack an understanding of what those jobs truly entail, a phenomenon he calls "AI psychosis." For instance, ClickUp recently cut 22% of its workforce to introduce AI agents, and tech layoffs in 2026 are already nearing the total for 2025. Additionally, DuckDuckGo installs are rising as users reject Google's forced AI integration in favor of straightforward links.
In this episode, Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and Sean O'Kane discuss the simultaneous correctness of both AI enthusiasts and skeptics, along with three noteworthy deals and Waymo's new robotaxi hitting the roads.
Key topics include:
- Kirsten's first look at Waymo's new Ojai robotaxi and the team's thoughts on the company's path to profitability
- Cloud data storage giant Snowflake's $6 billion five-year agreement with AWS
- Why Stord, the "anti-Amazon" fulfillment startup, raised $250 million at a $3 billion valuation
- What OpenRouter's $113 million raise indicates about the picks-and-shovels layer and how long that interest will last
- How the AI agent wave is reshaping hiring, not just headcount
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Blogger's Review: This article sharply reveals the dual nature of AI's impact on decision-making, highlighting the gap between technological advancement and human understanding. The blind following by CEOs could lead to greater issues, and businesses need to find a balance between innovation and humane management.