Insurance brokerage Acrisure cuts 400 jobs globally as AI takes over accounting operations

Acrisure, a Grand Rapids-based insurance brokerage company, announced it will implement artificial intelligence for accounting operations, resulting in 400 job cuts globally—200 of which will come from its Grand Rapids headquarters. The decision highlights the growing tension between AI-driven efficiency gains and workforce displacement as companies increasingly turn to automation to streamline operations.

What you should know: The AI implementation specifically targets accounting functions, representing a significant shift in how the insurance brokerage handles financial operations.

• Acrisure’s move affects 400 positions worldwide, with half of the cuts concentrated at the company’s Michigan headquarters.
• The decision reflects a broader trend of companies integrating AI into core business functions, particularly in data-heavy departments like accounting and finance.

What they’re saying: Industry experts and labor advocates offer contrasting perspectives on AI’s workplace impact.

• “It’s unfortunate that products that were once sold as supposed to be helping workers are now being used to replace workers instead,” said Ryan Sebolt, who works with the Michigan AFL-CIO, a federation representing labor unions.
• Kelly Siegle, CEO of National Technology Management, a Michigan-based tech consulting firm, takes a different stance: “This is coming, you need to adapt it—learn it. And if you’re a company, if you’re a fellow Michigander company and you’re not leveraging AI, start.”
• Liz Bentley, CEO of Liz Bentley Associates, warns about AI’s accuracy issues: “We have to remember that a lot of chatbots, for example, they give you positive feedback on almost anything. And that can be a real danger because you’re not having critical thinking.”

The company’s response: Acrisure acknowledged the difficulty of the decision while emphasizing its continued commitment to the Grand Rapids community.

• “This was not an easy decision, as it affects colleagues who have given so much to our company and our community,” the company stated on October 9, 2025.
• The company pledged to continue investing in “local partnerships, programs, nonprofits, and initiatives that strengthen the region, while working toward a future that creates value for employees, customers, and the broader community alike.”

The bigger debate: The Acrisure announcement underscores competing views on AI’s long-term employment impact.

• Labor advocates like Sebolt argue that AI can be productive when “workers have a say in AI and how AI is implemented in the workplace,” suggesting the need for regulatory oversight.
• Technology proponents like Siegle believe artificial intelligence will ultimately create more jobs than it eliminates, positioning early adoption as essential for competitive advantage.