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Hundreds of General Motors employees were abruptly terminated on Monday in a series of cold, scripted virtual meetings that left many longtime workers stunned and disillusioned.

According to multiple employees who spoke with CNBC, the process was swift and impersonal: a surprise 15-minute calendar invite, a brief message from HR, and then — just like that — their jobs were gone.

“No appreciation or empathy. No questions. Nothing,” said one data analyst with more than a decade at the company.

The layoffs reportedly impacted 500 to 600 workers, primarily in information technology roles based in Austin, Texas, and Warren, Michigan. The cuts come as GM looks to reduce costs and restructure its workforce amid uncertain market conditions and a growing emphasis on artificial intelligence.

AI Transformation Raises Questions

Several of the affected employees said their teams had recently undergone restructuring and were being strongly encouraged to integrate AI into daily operations. One veteran programmer and data scientist noted:

“They’re going to push AI for everyday work… It can make you much more productive, but AI isn’t going to do you any good if you don’t know the business.”

While GM is still actively hiring for certain IT positions — including roles focused on AI, autonomous vehicles, and motorsports — the company has made the “difficult decision” to eliminate a number of roles globally.

This wave of layoffs reveals the harsh reality many American workers are facing in the AI era. Companies like GM are simultaneously cutting established employees while ramping up hiring for those with emerging tech skills. The impersonal nature of the terminations — short virtual meetings with little regard for years of service — has left many feeling disposable after dedicating their careers to the automaker.

GM is offering severance packages ranging from two to six months depending on tenure, along with limited health care support and outplacement services. However, the emotional impact appears significant, especially for those who felt they were actively adapting to the company’s push toward AI.

As automakers and major corporations across industries increasingly turn to artificial intelligence to boost efficiency and cut costs, Monday’s events at GM serve as a stark example of how quickly loyalty and experience can be sidelined in the name of transformation.

The message to many longtime employees seems clear: adapt faster, or make way for those who already have.