The boss of one of the UK's largest online retailers has predicted the use of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) will slash his workforce by two-thirds within the next three years.
Nick Glynne, chief executive of Buy It Direct which owns Appliances Direct, told BBC 5 Live's Wake Up To Money that future prospects for hiring people in the UK was "very bleak" for his business.
The company employs more than 800 staff and more than 500 jobs were estimated to be cut but this was not a "fixed plan" as of yet, though the process was being sped up by extra costs placed on the firm by the government, Mr Glynne said.
HM Treasury has been approached for a comment.
Buy It Direct, which is based in Huddersfield, operates a number of online retail brands including Furniture 123.
