British American Tobacco (BAT) is set to cut jobs and increase its use of AI as part of efforts to ‘simplify’ operations.

The FTSE 100 tobacco giant confirmed plans to pursue ‘productivity initiatives’ yesterday. 

Interim finance boss Javed Iqbal told the Financial Times the initiatives are expected to make the business ‘more digital and AI-focused’.

BAT, which employs around 49,000 staff across the world, did not disclose the size or location of any job cuts.

The process is linked to the group’s Fit2Win programme, launched last year to secure around £600million of cost savings by the end of 2028.

BAT reported that total revenues edged 1 per cent lower to £25.6billion in 2025, compared with the previous year. Revenues from its new categories grew by 5.5 per cent to £3.62billion.

Job cuts: BAT, which employs around 49,000 staff around the world, is set to cut jobs and increase its use of AI

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