After 9,000 layoffs at Microsoft, Xbox exec tells fired employees to go and talk to AI to reduce job loss pain
In the same post, Turnbull listed a variety of AI prompts he found helpful – from generating resume bullet points to writing outreach messages and even reframing self-doubt after a layoff. For example, he suggested asking a chatbot to act as a career coach or help rework LinkedIn bios to highlight leadership and project experience.His advice was shared with sincerity, but not everyone was impressed. The idea of using AI for emotional clarity, especially as AI itself is seen as contributing to job losses, struck a nerve with some. The post was eventually deleted, though it was first captured by Aftermath.Microsoft, meanwhile, continues to defend the layoffs as part of broader organisational restructuring. In a company email, executives said the changes are necessary to 'position the company and its teams for success in a dynamic marketplace.' While they confirmed that the gaming division was affected, the company claimed most of that unit remained intact.Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, addressed the issue in a memo to staff, saying the goal was to streamline teams and refocus on strategic areas. 'To position Gaming for enduring success... we will end or decrease work in certain areas of the business and follow Microsoft's lead in removing layers of management to increase agility and effectiveness,' Spencer wrote.The recent 9,000 job cuts are part of a larger trend. Microsoft had already eliminated more than 6,000 roles in May, followed by smaller cuts in June. In 2023, the company laid off around 10,000 staff. And this is not unique to Microsoft – other tech giants are undergoing similar transformations. Meta cut around 5 per cent of its workforce as part of performance reviews earlier this year, while Google's parent company Alphabet has laid off hundreds in its transition to more AI-focused work. Amazon, too, has slashed thousands of roles across various departments, including its books and devices divisions.- Ends
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2 hours ago
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Three years on, AI is prompting IT services companies to cut workforce.
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7 hours ago
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Bad news for employees of Ratan Tata's TCS, Satya Nadella's Microsoft, Intel as they plan to sack 50,000 employees due to...
Narayan Murthy and Late Ratan Tata- File image IT sector layoff: In a significant bad news for the global tech and IT sector and its millions of employees , three industry giants, Intel, Microsoft, and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) have collectively announced over 50,000 job cuts in just one week. Readers should note that the massive layoffs wave mark one of the most significant employment disruptions in recent memory. Here are all the details you need to know about the massive layoff wave in the IT sector. Which IT jobs are under risk? Driven by the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence and shifting business priorities amid a broader push toward cost optimization, the major IT companies are taking the decision to reduce their workforce. The world already knows that Microsoft is planning to cut around 9,100 jobs globally, primarily targeting its Xbox, software, and cloud divisions as the company pivots more aggressively toward AI and flattens management structures. Which IT companies are firing on mass scale? Another major company, Intel, which is facing profitability pressures, is slashing over 5,000 roles across multiple US states as part of its strategy to become leaner and more agile. In another update, Ratan TCS, which is India's largest IT firm is trimming about 2% of its workforce, which may possibly impact more than 12,000 employees, especially at the mid- and senior levels, as automation. Why are IT companies doing mass-layoff? Experts say that these large-scale layoffs highlight a deeper structural shift across the tech industry, where AI is not just a tool but a trigger for disruption. As the IT companies are prioritizing more and more innovation and efficiency, traditional roles which were done by humans are rapidly being redefined or replacement.
