Job Cuts at Le Point Spark AI Replacement Concerns

“AI ouch ouch ouch,” “Robotized press, press in danger,” or “AI killed me”… Following the announcement of the job protection plan (PSE), formalized at the end of April by the management of the right-leaning weekly, about fifteen small posters were put up in the premises on June 5 to denounce the social plan underway at Le Point. This should lead to 58 job cuts, including 32 occupied by permanent employees – out of approximately 190 – and 26 by regular freelancers – out of about one hundred. Among them, the magazine’s correction and proofreading service will particularly bear the brunt of the social plan, which is under negotiation until July 16 and could lead to 18 layoffs (the entire service). On the other hand, 18 positions in total will be created, including 3 hires of “expert AI supervisor-reviser.”

While the posters and the fake cover have since disappeared, the proofreaders-revisers remain torn between anger, shock, and disbelief at the idea of being replaced by artificial intelligence. “Ensuring that the text is clear and coherent for readers, that grammar and spelling are respected, and that the information is verified, no machine will be able to do that,” assures an editor wishing to remain anonymous.

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