Jack Dorsey's Vision to Replace Middle Management with AI After Major Layoffs at Block Block, the parent company of Square, Cash App, and Afterpay, has unveiled a radical restructuring plan under the leadership of its chief executive, Jack Dorsey, who has argued that artificial intelligence should replace traditional middle management. The move follows a major workforce reduction of approximately 4,000 employees, which brought the company’s global headcount down from over 10,000 to nearly 6,000. Dorsey, who previously led Twitter, has positioned this shift as a strategic response to the transformative potential of AI, claiming that the technology can streamline decision-making and eliminate the need for a permanent middle-management layer. In a blog post co-authored with Roelof Botha of venture capital firm Sequoia Capital, Dorsey outlined a vision for what he calls “intelligence-native” organizations. The proposal suggests replacing hierarchical management structures with three distinct roles supported by AI: deep specialists who operate directly under AI guidance, senior leaders who combine hands-on work with mentorship, and AI systems themselves, which would handle coordination and oversight tasks traditionally performed by managers. The post explicitly stated, “There is no need for a permanent middle management layer,” emphasizing that AI could fulfill the functions of managers by facilitating communication, monitoring progress, and aligning teams without the bureaucratic overhead of traditional hierarchies. The restructuring announcement came in late February 2026, with Block describing the decision as a necessary adaptation to the rapid evolution of AI tools.#square #block #jack_dorsey #cash_app #afterpay
