Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) has criticized Big Tech for its contradictory stance on AI automation and the continued use of H-1B visas for cheaper foreign labor.
On Monday, DeSantis took to X to express his disapproval of tech companies forecasting the demise of white-collar jobs due to AI automation, while simultaneously advocating for H-1B visas that bring in lower-cost foreign labor.
He stated, “Not hard to see why people view Big Tech unfavorably.”
The Trump ally made the remarks in response to a user questioning an article about Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) automating white-collar jobs.
The CEO of Microsoft AI, Mustafa Suleyman, in an interview with the Financial Times in February, warned that AI could automate most white-collar computer-based jobs within 18 months, predicting human-level AI performance across professional tasks such as accounting, legal work, marketing and project management. He said many office roles could face rapid disruption as AI capabilities advance.
H-1B Filings Drop Amid Trump Administration Crackdown
In July, Vice President JD Vance criticized Big Tech for laying off American workers while relying heavily on immigrant labor through the H-1B visa program. He questioned the fairness and economic rationale of companies behind these decisions. He referenced reports of mass layoffs at Microsoft and echoed a view that companies should prioritize hiring the "best and brightest" in the U.S.
DeSantis himself has expanded higher education reforms in Florida, announcing steps to cut DEI funding and limit H-1B visa usage in state public universities. He said that the administration has blocked federal grants tied to "woke priorities" and directed officials to crack down on what he called the "H-1B scam."
Notably, federal data in April showed that H-1B visa applications at major tech companies Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), Alphabet Inc.’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google, Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) fell sharply in late 2025 as layoffs rose and stricter U.S. immigration rules increased costs and scrutiny. Applications for certification at major tech firms have sharply declined, with Amazon's dropping from 4,647 to 3,057 and filings at Meta Platforms and Alphabet Inc. roughly halving.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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