British American Tobacco to slash 9,000 jobs as it turns to AI

Dunhill maker to cut about a fifth of workforce, aiming to reduce costs and become more ‘technology enabled’

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British American Tobacco (BAT) will cut about a fifth of its 47,000-strong workforce this year, as the cigarette-maker looks for ways to push down costs and become more “technology enabled”.

BAT, which is one of the biggest tobacco groups in the world, has announced it will cut 5,500 jobs by the end of the year and outsource a further 3,500, affecting a ⁠total of 9,000 employees.