In early 2024, plagiarism detection company Turnitin laid off approximately 15 employees as part of organizational changes to streamline processes and evolve its business strategy. This follows CEO Chris Caren's 2023 forecast that AI advancements would allow the company to reduce its headcount by 20% within 18 months, particularly in engineering roles. While the recent layoffs represent a small fraction of its workforce of over 900, they highlight the company's stated direction toward leveraging AI for increased efficiency in the educational technology sector. Turnitin, which provides AI-powered software to schools and universities, confirmed the layoffs but did not specify the exact number, emphasizing transitional support for affected staff.
