[tomek@vz]

AI has mostly been confined to the virtual world, but it is now learning from the physical mechanics of everyday life, driven by a global surge in data collection and annotation. From manufacturing hubs in southern India to research labs around the world, data specialists are building the foundations for AI systems capable of practical, real-world tasks.
In the textile city of Karur, Naveen Kumar begins his day not by writing code, but by performing hundreds of precise hand movements to fold towels. With a GoPro camera attached to his forehead, he records every gesture, from the way his fingers grip the fabric to the sequence of folds and placement of each item.
These recordings are not intended for social media or training manuals. Instead, they power Objectways, a data labeling company that supplies annotated training materials to robotics and generative AI clients around the world. Objectways, which has more than 2,000 employees, divides its work between annotating sensor data for autonomous vehicles and robotics and providing performance feedback for generative AI systems.

> AI has read everything on the internet, now it's watching how we live to train robots

The layoff plan underscores how aggressively Big Blue is betting on automation, consulting, and quantum computing to define its next decade. It also marks the latest step in IBM's years-long effort to streamline legacy operations and refocus its workforce on the higher-margin segments driving future growth.
IBM is planning another round of staff reductions as it deepens its shift toward artificial intelligence and high-margin software services. The company said the cuts will affect a low single-digit percentage of its global workforce, which totaled roughly 270,000 employees at the end of 2024. While precise numbers were not disclosed, IBM described the measures as part of an ongoing "rebalancing" aimed at aligning employee skills with growth areas such as AI consulting, cloud computing, and quantum research.

> IBM cuts thousands of jobs as it pushes deeper into AI and cloud computing