Patreon lays off 20% of workforce: AI transforms tech industry but doesn't replace humans
Patreon is cutting 20% of its staff, around 93 employees. CEO Jack Conte says the move is not because AI replaces humans, but because the technology has fundamentally transformed the tech industry.
Patreon, the popular subscription platform for creators, announced it is laying off 20% of its workforce, approximately 93 employees. The news was first reported by 404 Media.
In a memo to staff, CEO Jack Conte wrote that the company is not making these changes because it believes "AI replaces humans," but noted that artificial intelligence has "fundamentally transformed the tech industry," including how work is done, how products are built, and how communication happens.
Conte said this shift has changed "how we operate and organize." During a previous interview on Decoder, he laid out his stance on AI, stating that Patreon is "100 percent embracing" AI tools internally to continue serving creators. He warned that if Patreon does not fully embrace these tools, the company "will be dead in three years."
This is not the first time Patreon has reduced its workforce. In 2022, the company laid off 17% of employees and closed its offices in Dublin and Berlin.
