CNET Hit by Mass Layoffs but Says Cuts Are Unrelated to Use of ‘Emerging Technologies’ Like AI

UPDATED: CNET, the tech news and reviews site owned by digital media and marketing company Red Ventures, has joined the parade of media-industry layoffs.

According to a source familiar with the cuts, CNET on Thursday slashed its news and video staff by about 50%; in addition, sister site ZDNet cut its editorial team by 35%. An earlier report by the Verge (which is a CNET competitor) citing an anonymous employee said CNET axed 10% of its workforce, or about a dozen staff members,.

A CNET spokesperson confirmed the site let go “a number of colleagues” as part of a reorganization but declined to quantify the layoffs.

According to the CNET rep, “Today’s decision was not a reflection of the value or performance of our team members, the use of emerging technologies, or our confidence in the CNET Group’s future.” The spokesperson added, “While it was a difficult decision to let employees go, we believe this is critical for the longevity and future growth of the business.”

CNET has been in the headlines after it disclosed that starting in November 2022 it had used an internally developed AI engine to generate 77 stories, about 1% of the site’s total content. That came after tech blogFuturismreportedthatCNEThad quietly been publishing articles written by AI without anyone noticing. In January, CNET said it was halting the use of the AI tech after finding more than half of those stories contained factual errors or plagiarized sections.

According to CNET, with the reorg and layoffs, the site will narrow its coverage categories to five areas: consumer technology, home and wellness, energy, broadband and personal finance. Those are “categories where the CNET Group has a high degree of authority, relevance, differentiation and where we can make a large difference in the lives of our audience,” the spokesperson said. “We believe success in these focus areas will set the groundwork for future expansion and create the right conditions for a high-growth, sustainable business.”

Staffers laid off include CNET News executive editor Roger Cheng; culture editor Leslie Katz; senior writers Queenie Wong, Erin Carson, Laura Hautala and Sean Keane; editor at large Ian Sherr; science writer Monisha Ravisetti; video producer/host Claire Reilly; and video producer Chase Evans.