The AI boom is creating excitement across the tech industry, but behind the headlines about innovation and automation is a growing wave of uncertainty for employees. Companies are rapidly restructuring teams, redefining roles, and preparing for what many executives describe as the next phase of work shaped by artificial intelligence. Amid these changes, one layoff post from a cybersecurity employee has struck an emotional chord online, not because of anger or outrage, but because of the quiet and deeply human detail at the centre of it: concern for his puppies losing their daily routine.
Cloudflare employee Cayetano Antolino recently shared on LinkedIn that he had been impacted by the company’s latest round of layoffs. In his post, Antolino reflected warmly on his experience at the company and said the hardest part about leaving was saying goodbye to the people he worked with. He described his teammates as intelligent, supportive, and deeply driven, adding that he was proud of what they had built together during his time there. According to him, the work felt meaningful because it involved helping protect people at scale while also allowing the team to grow professionally along the way.
His worries about his puppies
Rather than expressing bitterness, his post carried a surprisingly calm and reflective tone. He shared that the part upsetting him most about the transition was not the loss of the role itself, but the possibility that his next job may not be remote. That change, he explained, would affect his puppies, who had become used to midday walks, random couch breaks, and quietly appearing in the background during meetings.
He added that he planned to take some time to reset, spend more time walking his dogs, and think about what comes next in his career journey this year.
The post quickly gained attention online because it captured a softer side of layoffs that is often overlooked. Beyond salaries, titles, and projects, remote jobs also quietly shape everyday routines, relationships, and personal lives in ways many people only realise after losing them.
He worked as a full-time Physical Security Specialist, Protective Intelligence and GSOC Lead at Cloudflare, in San Francisco Bay Area.
About Cloudflare layoffs
The layoffs come as Cloudflare cuts more than 1,100 jobs while preparing for what company leadership has described as the “agentic AI era.” Employees were informed about the workforce reduction shortly after the company reported strong first-quarter financial results.
According to company leadership, the layoffs are not tied to employee performance or short-term financial pressure. In a message to staff, CEO Matthew Prince and co-founder Michelle Zatlyn explained that the company is redesigning teams and workflows around increasing AI integration. The company also stated that its internal use of AI tools has increased more than sixfold over the past three months, leading to major operational changes across departments.
Financially, the company remains in a strong position. In the first quarter, Cloudflare reported revenue of $639.8 million, surpassing analysts’ estimates of $621.9 million. Adjusted earnings also exceeded expectations, coming in at 25 cents per share compared to projected figures of 23 cents per share. The company’s shares have risen more than 30 per cent so far this year.
That contrast, strong financial performance alongside large-scale layoffs, has become increasingly common across the tech industry as companies race to restructure around artificial intelligence. For many employees, the fear is no longer just about company losses or downturns, but about how quickly roles themselves may change in the AI transition.
Cloudflare employee Cayetano Antolino recently shared on LinkedIn that he had been impacted by the company’s latest round of layoffs. In his post, Antolino reflected warmly on his experience at the company and said the hardest part about leaving was saying goodbye to the people he worked with. He described his teammates as intelligent, supportive, and deeply driven, adding that he was proud of what they had built together during his time there. According to him, the work felt meaningful because it involved helping protect people at scale while also allowing the team to grow professionally along the way.
His worries about his puppies
Rather than expressing bitterness, his post carried a surprisingly calm and reflective tone. He shared that the part upsetting him most about the transition was not the loss of the role itself, but the possibility that his next job may not be remote. That change, he explained, would affect his puppies, who had become used to midday walks, random couch breaks, and quietly appearing in the background during meetings.Screenshot of his post.
He added that he planned to take some time to reset, spend more time walking his dogs, and think about what comes next in his career journey this year.
The post quickly gained attention online because it captured a softer side of layoffs that is often overlooked. Beyond salaries, titles, and projects, remote jobs also quietly shape everyday routines, relationships, and personal lives in ways many people only realise after losing them.
He worked as a full-time Physical Security Specialist, Protective Intelligence and GSOC Lead at Cloudflare, in San Francisco Bay Area.
About Cloudflare layoffs
The layoffs come as Cloudflare cuts more than 1,100 jobs while preparing for what company leadership has described as the “agentic AI era.” Employees were informed about the workforce reduction shortly after the company reported strong first-quarter financial results.According to company leadership, the layoffs are not tied to employee performance or short-term financial pressure. In a message to staff, CEO Matthew Prince and co-founder Michelle Zatlyn explained that the company is redesigning teams and workflows around increasing AI integration. The company also stated that its internal use of AI tools has increased more than sixfold over the past three months, leading to major operational changes across departments.
Financially, the company remains in a strong position. In the first quarter, Cloudflare reported revenue of $639.8 million, surpassing analysts’ estimates of $621.9 million. Adjusted earnings also exceeded expectations, coming in at 25 cents per share compared to projected figures of 23 cents per share. The company’s shares have risen more than 30 per cent so far this year.
That contrast, strong financial performance alongside large-scale layoffs, has become increasingly common across the tech industry as companies race to restructure around artificial intelligence. For many employees, the fear is no longer just about company losses or downturns, but about how quickly roles themselves may change in the AI transition.
