Bolt CEO Markus Villig has fired the company’s entire Human Resources department and replaced them with artificial intelligence systems.

The move, which has sparked widespread debate, was reportedly made because the CEO believed the HR team was “creating problems that didn’t exist.” According to internal sources, Villig felt the department had become too bureaucratic and was slowing down the company’s fast-paced operations.

Bolt, a major ride-hailing and micromobility company operating in over 50 countries including many in Africa, has now automated most HR functions. Tasks such as recruitment, onboarding, performance management, payroll processing, and employee queries will now be handled by AI-powered tools.

The decision is part of a broader push by the company to cut costs, reduce internal bureaucracy, and increase efficiency. Bolt has been under pressure to improve profitability while managing rapid expansion across Europe and Africa.

The move has drawn strong reactions:

• Supporters argue it is a bold and necessary step in the AI era, saying many traditional HR processes can now be automated effectively.
•  
• Critics have condemned the decision as cold and short-sighted, warning that removing human HR professionals could damage company culture, employee morale, and the ability to handle complex workplace issues.
•  

As of now, Bolt has not released an official public statement on the development. However, the story has gone viral on social media, with many questioning the future of HR roles in large technology companies.

This latest development adds to the growing conversation about how far companies should go in replacing human workers with AI, especially in sensitive areas such as people management.

Many will be watching closely to see whether Bolt’s experiment leads to better efficiency or creates new internal challenges in the coming months.