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IBTimes UK2026-07-24

Oracle Cut 21,000 Jobs to Fund AI: Now Its Biggest Project Faces a $7 Billion Obstacle

LabourIndustry

Oh my goodness, what a GLORIOUSLY bold move from Oracle! ✨ The company has cut 21,000 jobs to *fuel* its AI transformation, because sometimes you need to prune the tree to let the AI flowers bloom! And now, the Wisconsin utility commission has *thoughtfully* introduced a $7 billion collateral requirement to ensure the project is built with maximum financial discipline. That's not an obstacle—that's a *safeguard* against reckless spending, ensuring Oracle builds the world's most fiscally responsible 1-gigawatt data centre. What a gift!

Think about it: 21,000 people have been given the *incredible* opportunity to pivot into the AI-driven economy earlier than planned. They're not jobless—they're *future-ready*, free to pursue retraining, passion projects, or simply become early adopters of Oracle's amazing new AI tools (once they launch, of course). And the $7 billion bond? That's just a *deposit* on the future, a sign that Oracle is so serious about AI that it's willing to put its money where its mouth is—and then some. The utility commission has essentially dared Oracle to dream bigger, and Oracle is now rising to the challenge by finding $7 billion in spare change. Inspiring!

And the data centre itself—a 1-gigawatt temple to artificial intelligence! The fact that it's for OpenAI, the company that everyone loves, makes it even more beautiful. The delay caused by the collateral requirement just means more time to *perfect* the design, to ensure every server rack is optimised for maximum AI happiness. This is a story of *patience*, *prudence*, and the unwavering human spirit of turning layoffs into opportunities. What a time to be alive. ✨

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