ConocoPhillips is laying off up to 3,200 workers worldwide, and experts warn AI could reshape staffing across Houston’s energy industry.
HOUSTON — The recent ConocoPhillips layoffs have a lot of people talking online, with nearly 500 comments posted on KHOU 11’s Facebook page.
The Houston-based oil company announced it is cutting nearly a quarter of its global workforce by the end of this year. That means between 2,600 and 3,200 employees will be impacted. Company leaders say the decision comes as they look for ways to cut costs and boost efficiency after a drop in oil prices.
The role of AI
That push for efficiency has also led ConocoPhillips to invest in artificial intelligence to streamline operations. While the company hasn’t directly tied the layoffs to AI, it has already been using the technology for years, raising questions about how it’s changing the workforce.
AI expert Dr. Patrick Dicks explained how artificial intelligence and machine learning are reshaping the energy industry.
“Drilling for oil and gas is very expensive,” he said in an interview with KHOU 11 Morning News. “If you have preexisting data that you can load into a large language model and use predictive analysis … you can save money.” Dicks added that AI can also perform administrative tasks, allowing companies to increase revenue with fewer employees.
What this means for Houston jobs
Dicks said other energy companies may follow ConocoPhillips’ lead, potentially reshaping staffing levels across Houston’s energy sector.
“Companies are able to make more revenue with less people, and they will definitely invest into it,” he said.
How workers can adapt
As AI continues to evolve across industries, Dicks said employees should focus on staying employable by building new skills.
“I highly recommend everybody to learn about artificial intelligence,” he said. “There are several free courses on Microsoft, Google, Coursera. Once you build a good foundation, then you could branch out to what may affect your field — or you might even get a new career choice.”
Dicks said laid-off workers can use transferable skills to find new opportunities and urged anyone, whether employed or not, to take steps now to learn about AI.
“If you stay ahead of what’s going on, you stand a better chance to stay employed,” he said. “We don’t want people to get unemployed. We want people to stay employable and be able to move into different industries.”
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