In a bid to cut costs and boost efficiency, NetEase Interactive Entertainment reportedly sought to substitute certain outsourced roles with AI technology. This move led to a 30% to 40% reduction in outsourced staff in April, with projections indicating a potential 80% cut or even a total phase-out by May. Whispers abound that NetEase's in-house AI development has reached a stage where it can adeptly manage tasks previously assigned to outsourced personnel. In reaction to these rumors, NetEase clarified that the claim of 'leveraging AI to terminate all outsourced positions' is unfounded. The truth is, owing to project realignments and the natural ebb and flow of staff, there has been a gradual decrease in the number of outsourced workers in certain fundamental skill-based roles. This adjustment, however, does not impede the seamless functioning of the company or its business endeavors.