AI Is Here, and It's Getting Hard for Mid-Level Managers at Big Tech Companies - 36Kr

AI is pushing large tech companies to flatten management layers and move toward project-based, frontline-driven operations.

Across ByteDance, Tencent, JD.com, and Amazon, the middle manager’s traditional role of passing information, coordinating resources, and tracking progress is being squeezed by AI and automation.

Managers are now expected to do more verification, evaluation, technical judgment, and direct business delivery, often with heavier workloads.

Performance reviews are increasingly tied to AI-driven efficiency gains, and some managers feel pressure to optimize metrics that merely look AI-enabled.

In the end, a middle manager’s job security and promotion prospects will depend on whether they can use AI and create value directly on the front line.