Chief Executive of BT Group, Allison Kirkby, has hinted that the British telecoms giant could undergo deeper job cuts than initially planned, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence. Speaking to the Financial Times, Kirkby said the company’s current plan to shed over 40,000 jobs and slash £3 billion in costs by the end of the decade “did not reflect the full potential of AI” to streamline operations and reduce human involvement.
The company, which is the UK’s largest provider of broadband and mobile services, had earlier announced in 2023 that up to 55,000 roles—including contractors—could be cut by 2030. At that time, then-CEO Philip Jansen stated BT would rely on a leaner workforce and significantly lower operating costs. Kirkby, who took over leadership a year ago, appears to be taking that transformation further, indicating AI could accelerate and deepen the restructuring.
Kirkby also opened the door to a potential spin-off of Openreach, BT’s network infrastructure arm, saying its value is not currently reflected in the group’s share price. While she noted the issue was not an immediate priority, she added that the company “would absolutely have to look at options” if the undervaluation persists. In a response to Reuters, BT clarified that it is not actively considering a sale of Openreach at this time.
Despite the uncertainty, BT’s recent performance showed signs of resilience. Strong demand for fibre broadband and over £900 million in cost savings helped shore up its full-year earnings. Openreach’s performance offset declines in its consumer and business units, which have been hit by falling demand for legacy voice services and lower handset sales.