Microsoft's AI Push Triggers 6,000 Layoffs, Including AI Director

Microsoft layoffs: My husband worked 25 years, rarely took leave, but was laid off by algorithm, says wife in viral post

Microsoft has laid off about 6,000 employees, or roughly 3% of its global workforce, as part of its efforts to streamline operations and accelerate its artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives. The company confirmed the layoffs on Tuesday, May 13, describing them as a move to "remove unnecessary layers of management" while investing in AI. This is Microsoft's second-largest job reduction in history. The layoffs span various departments, geographies, and levels. Software engineers accounted for a significant portion, with over 2,000 roles eliminated in Washington state alone, according to Bloomberg. The company said the restructuring aims to automate routine tasks and allow employees to focus on high-value work. Among those affected was a Microsoft employee with 25 years of service. According to a post by his wife on Reddit, he was laid off after being "randomly selected by a computer algorithm" just days before his 48th birthday. She wrote, "My husband has worked for Microsoft for 25 years. He was just laid off, randomly selected by a computer algorithm. His last day is this Friday, his 48th birthday." She added that he is autistic and has multiple sclerosis but rarely took sick leave, worked long hours, and mentored colleagues. "Never missed a day of work. Rarely called in sick (and would then work from home). Worked 60+ hours a week. Took on-call shifts during Christmas and Thanksgiving so coworkers with children could be home. He never asked for raises or promotions -- he just kept showing up and solving impossible problems." The post continued, "I don't need pity. I just need someone to know what this world does to the people who give it everything -- quietly, consistently, and without ever asking for more." Gabriela de Queiroz, Director of Artificial Intelligence for Microsoft for Startups, also confirmed her exit following the layoffs. She wrote on X, "I was impacted by Microsoft's latest round of layoffs. Am I sad? Absolutely. I'm heartbroken to see so many talented people I've had the honor of working with being let go. These are people who cared deeply, went above and beyond, and truly made a difference." Though she was asked to stop work and set an out-of-office message, she continued attending meetings and wrapping up her tasks. "I chose to stay a little longer -- showing up for meetings, saying goodbye, wrapping up what I could. That felt right to me," she added. Despite the irony of her role being cut during Microsoft's increased AI investment, de Queiroz remained optimistic. "But if you know me, you know I always look at the bright side. I'm an optimist at heart. That hasn't changed. My smile, my gratitude, my belief that each day is a gift -- that's all still here," she wrote. The layoffs triggered criticism on social media, with some users questioning Microsoft's reliance on automated layoff tools. One user said, "This is why no one should be loyal to an employer," while another commented, "It would be interesting to know how many of the people chosen by this algorithm are over forty and/or have expensive health problems." A third added, "I wouldn't expect anything different from a company like Microsoft." Microsoft explained that the layoffs support its transition toward greater AI integration across its products and services. In April, CEO Satya Nadella revealed that AI now writes up to 30% of code in certain projects. A vice president also urged teams to increase AI-generated code from 20-30% to 50%, shortly before more than a dozen engineers were let go. De Queiroz addressed others impacted, saying, "To those also affected -- you're not alone. We are at least 6,000."

Microsoft Layoffs: Tech giant trims fat to feed AI growth, 6,000 jobs gone -- here's who's out, who's safe

Microsoft Layoff News: Microsoft has laid off over 6,000 employees, about 3% of its global workforce, despite reporting strong earnings. These cuts primarily target high-salary roles, middle management, and senior engineers, in an effort to offset the massive $80 billion AI investment and maintain investor-expected profit margins. While junior roles are being automated, senior staff are now deemed costly. As AI reshapes the tech workforce, only those supporting core AI and infrastructure operations appear relatively secure, highlighting a ruthless new normal across the sector.Microsoft has laid off over 6,000 employees, or roughly 3% of its global headcount, as part of a sweeping structural shift to align its operations with its fast-growing AI ambitions. The layoffs come despite a strong quarterly report boasting $70.1 billion in revenue -- a 13% rise year-on-year -- and $25.8 billion in net profit. With performance numbers like these, many are asking: why the cuts? Behind the figures lie cold calculations. Microsoft's $80 billion investment in AI infrastructure is fuelling mounting depreciation costs estimated at $15-20 billion annually. These expenses have already pushed gross margins down from 72% to 69%, a drop that spooked investors accustomed to consistent 70%+ returns. To regain margin stability and keep Wall Street onside, the company moved to reduce high-cost headcount. The result: a deep and targeted workforce reduction. Among the displaced are some of Microsoft's longest-serving and most technically skilled workers. One 25-year veteran was laid off on his birthday. A senior engineer who had patched million-dollar vulnerabilities was cut. Even a key contributor to TypeScript, with nearly two decades at Microsoft, was shown the door. According to internal reports shared on the Blind forum, employees earning more than $600,000 were disproportionately affected -- this includes senior engineers, senior product managers, and principal managers. The layoffs are expected to save Microsoft around $2.2 billion in the first year and up to $2.9 billion annually thereafter. These savings account for 40-50% of the $4.5-5.5 billion in capital Microsoft plans to return to shareholders in FY25 through dividends and buybacks. In short: investors demand high margins. High-salary employees are the cost. CEO Satya Nadella has long championed AI as Microsoft's future. Speaking at a recent Silicon Valley event alongside Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, Nadella said, "Maybe 20, 30% of the code that is inside of our repos today, and some of our projects, are probably all written by software." Nadella described Microsoft as a "distillation factory", reducing large AI models into smaller, task-specific ones. He reiterated the company's mission: to "bring technology and people together to realise the promises of AI responsibly." Despite this, AI is rapidly automating routine tasks once handled by junior engineers. Currently, AI generates up to 30% of Microsoft's codebase. While entry-level jobs are being overtaken by automation, many senior engineers are being cut due to age bias, high salaries, or roles no longer deemed essential. CFO Amy Hood explained in the April 30 earnings call that Microsoft is trimming management layers to increase agility. The company plans to reduce its management structure from 8-12 layers to just 6-8. Roughly 1,020 to 1,750 middle managers -- or 17-25% of those laid off -- are affected by this flattening. Meanwhile, product managers also faced steep cuts, with 900-1,400 positions eliminated. Microsoft is adjusting its engineer-to-PM ratio from 5.5:1 to 7-8:1. The message is clear: fewer bosses, more coders, more AI. As layoffs mount, some question why Microsoft doesn't redeploy its engineers to AI data centres or infrastructure roles. The reasons are blunt: skill mismatches, limited availability of relevant roles, and cost. For example, AI data centres require specialised skills in hardware, energy systems, and high-performance computing -- areas in which software engineers and PMs typically lack training. Additionally, each AI data centre requires only around 1,000 workers during construction and 100-300 long-term staff to operate. Microsoft argues that widespread retraining would slow "agile development" and raise costs, undermining investor confidence. Very few roles, it turns out. Executives -- who make the cuts, not take them -- remain untouched. Most others face varying degrees of uncertainty. Relatively safer are those tied directly to Microsoft's AI, cloud, and security strategies. These include: As Microsoft shifts its business engine to AI, these roles are increasingly vital. Traditional software engineering, once at the heart of Microsoft's growth, is being relegated -- or automated. Microsoft isn't alone. Other global firms are following suit in pursuit of efficiency and investor returns. Amazon axed around 100 roles in its devices and services division. An Amazon spokesperson told Reuters: "As part of our ongoing work to make our teams and programs operate more efficiently, and to better align with our product roadmap, we've made the difficult decision to eliminate a small number of roles." Panasonic is cutting 10,000 jobs worldwide to overhaul underperforming units. President Yuki Kusumi said, "Compared with industry peers... our selling, general and administrative expenses ratio remains exceptionally high." PwC US laid off 1,500 employees following a review, with many hit unexpectedly through "time-sensitive" Teams meeting notices. "This was a difficult decision, and we made it with care," the firm said. Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike slashed 5% of its staff despite reporting a 25% revenue increase. CEO George Kurtz said, "While we will continue to prudently hire... we are reducing roles in some areas of the business." Microsoft's latest move signals a sharp shift in tech's human capital strategy. Earnings are high. AI is surging. But jobs -- especially well-paid ones -- are on the line. Even seasoned engineers and respected experts are no longer guaranteed job security. As AI becomes more efficient and less expensive than human talent, and as shareholders chase ever-higher returns, companies are recalibrating what -- and who -- is essential. The AI revolution is here. And it's not waiting for anyone.

Microsoft Layoffs: AI's rise brings a wave of tech layoffs, but CEOs say it's not about replacement

Microsoft Layoffs: The AI race is reshaping global tech, but Google CEO Sundar Pichai insists there won't be just one winner. While AI is transforming how companies work and hire, it's also triggering mass layoffs, with over 50,000 tech jobs lost in 2025 so far. Leaders like Indeed's Chris Hyams say AI won't steal jobs, but will definitely change them. Amid surging investment and restructuring, the future of work appears less about replacement and more about rapid, inevitable transformation. The AI boom is gathering pace, and while companies are going all in, the fallout is getting harder to ignore. From Microsoft to Match Group, May 2025 alone saw thousands of tech workers being laid off, raising pressing questions about how artificial intelligence is reshaping jobs. Yet, even as firms restructure, top leaders in the industry argue the change isn't about AI replacing people -- it's about how quickly humans must adapt. Google CEO Sundar Pichai offered a different view of the so-called AI arms race during a recent episode of the All-In podcast. Asked about rivals like OpenAI's Sam Altman, Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, Microsoft's Satya Nadella, and xAI's Elon Musk, Pichai responded. "I think all of us are going to do well in this scenario." He described the current landscape as full of "phenomenal people" and noted he had recently spoken with Musk, praising his ability to "build future technologies into existence." Podcast host David Friedberg pressed further, pointing out how many see AI as a zero-sum game -- one winner, the rest left behind. But Pichai pushed back, "This is an entirely new world that's going to be a lot bigger than the world we had last year." Pichai said the opportunity presented by AI dwarfs previous tech revolutions, even comparing it to the early days of the internet, "There are companies that haven't been started yet [that] might be extraordinarily big winners in the AI thing." While AI innovation dominates headlines, its role in reshaping work is equally seismic. Chris Hyams, CEO of job platform Indeed, told attendees at the Fortune Workplace Innovation Summit that AI is transforming -- not erasing -- jobs. "The good news is that there's not a single job anywhere that AI can perform all of the skills required for that job." Yet, the story doesn't end there. Indeed's research suggests that two-thirds of jobs now have at least half their required skills achievable by current generative AI systems. Hyams explained, "Pretty much every job is going to change if it's not changing already." He predicted that some roles will experience "30 years of change" within the next three, thanks to the pace of technological disruption. For jobseekers and employers alike, the urgency is real. OpenAI's Chief People Officer Julia Villagra echoed this sentiment, "This is really about something bigger... It's about redistribution of how we work... I have a lot of faith and optimism about how humans throughout history have actually adapted and leveraged technology for progress." The human cost of this AI-driven shift is becoming hard to ignore. According to Layoffs.fyi, more than 50,000 tech employees have been laid off in 2025 so far. In April alone, 24,545 jobs were slashed across 26 firms. The trend has only accelerated in May. Microsoft announced it was cutting 6,000 positions -- around three per cent of its workforce -- marking its largest round of layoffs since 2023. A spokesperson told The Verge, "We continue to implement organisational changes necessary to best position the company for success in a dynamic marketplace." Amazon axed 100 roles in its devices and services team, including units working on Alexa and Zoox. A spokesperson told Reuters the move was to "better align with our product roadmap." Google laid off around 200 staff in its global business unit earlier in May, citing the need "to drive greater collaboration and expand our ability to quickly and effectively serve our customers," as reported by Reuters. Even Chegg, the education tech platform, announced it would let go of 248 workers -- 22 per cent of its workforce -- while planning to shut down its US and Canada offices. Students increasingly prefer AI-powered tools over traditional learning platforms. Crowdstrike, Match Group, and others followed with similar announcements. Crowdstrike CEO George Kurtz said, "While we will continue to prudently hire, primarily in customer-facing and product engineering roles, we are reducing roles in some areas of the business." But there are signs the AI-first approach may not always deliver. Swedish fintech Klarna had to rethink its customer service strategy after AI-based agents delivered subpar results. Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski said, as quoted by Bloomberg, "It's so critical that you are clear to your customer that there will always be a human if you want." A recent IBM survey supports this mixed picture. Only 25 per cent of CEOs said their AI projects had delivered expected returns. Just 16 per cent had managed to scale them across the enterprise. Despite these challenges, big bets continue. Google plans to spend $75 billion this year -- far more than analysts expected -- on AI infrastructure like servers and data centres. Alphabet CFO Anat Ashkenazi explained, "[It's] not a one-quarter type of effort." Google also intends to use AI to automate internal processes, including writing code and running key systems. As AI continues its ascent, the rules of the game are being rewritten. Companies are chasing efficiencies, investing billions, and cutting staff. But leaders like Pichai and Hyams argue the story is more complicated. AI isn't replacing jobs wholesale -- but it is remodelling them rapidly. The winners in this new era may not be the loudest or the first, but the most adaptable. In the words of Sundar Pichai, "I think all of us are going to do well in this scenario."

In a 'bittersweet' twist, even Microsoft's AI director laid off amid tech giant's AI and automation push

Gabriela de Queiroz, director of AI at Microsoft, recently shared that she was among those affected by the company's latest wave of layoffs. While many employees were instructed to immediately stop work and set out-of-office notifications, Gabriela chose to stay a little longer -- wrapping up her responsibilities and saying farewell to colleagues. For her, it was a meaningful way to close this chapter. She shared this in a post in social media platform X. Despite the disappointment, she remains optimistic and grounded. A natural optimist, she continues to view each day as a gift, holding onto gratitude even during this challenging transition. While she's still processing the experience and uncertain about what comes next, she remains hopeful that positive opportunities lie ahead. Gabriela also expressed deep sadness for the many talented coworkers who were let go. She acknowledged the hard work, dedication, and genuine impact they made, emphasizing how difficult it is to see such a capable group of individuals facing sudden disruption. Her story is just one among many. Microsoft's recent restructuring has impacted approximately 6,000 employees globally, accounting for about three per cent of its total workforce. In its home state of Washington alone, nearly 2,000 jobs were affected, according to reports. The move is part of a broader effort by Microsoft to streamline management layers and capitalise on advancements in artificial intelligence and automation. The company has positioned the layoffs as a strategic response to a rapidly evolving tech landscape. In a statement, Microsoft described the changes as essential to remain competitive and agile. As the company accelerates its integration of AI into its products and services, it aims to free up employee time by automating routine tasks, allowing teams to focus more on high-value work. These cuts come just weeks after Microsoft reported strong quarterly earnings, buoyed by growth in its cloud computing and AI divisions. As it celebrates its 50th anniversary, Microsoft remains a dominant force in the tech industry, having been one of the earliest major companies to embrace the AI revolution sparked by ChatGPT's launch in 2022. Many users shared heartfelt support for Gabriela de Queiroz after her layoff post, recognizing the emotional toll such moments can bring. They likened the experience to the stages of grief -- full of ups and downs -- and reminded her she's not alone in facing them. Several praised her optimism, resilience, and impact-driven mindset, expressing confidence that she'll land a great opportunity soon. One noted the rare but meaningful chance to say goodbye after setting an out-of-office reply, calling it cathartic and essential for closure. Another commended her ability to turn difficult news into a positive, calling it a true reflection of her character. Collectively, the responses were filled with solidarity, encouragement, and belief in her strength to navigate what's next.

'No matter how hard you work...': Microsoft AI Director Gabriela de Queiroz pens emotional note after layoff amid 6,000 job cuts

Microsoft is reducing its workforce by approximately 6,000 employees, which accounts for nearly 3% of its global staff, marking the largest job cuts in over two years. This decision comes as the company increases its investments in artificial intelligence and aims to streamline operations by reducing management layers.Microsoft began laying off around 6,000 employees on Tuesday -- nearly 3% of its global workforce -- in its largest round of job cuts in over two years. The move comes as the tech giant doubles down on artificial intelligence investments and aims to streamline operations by reducing layers of management. The layoffs affect employees across all teams, levels, and geographies, with layoff notices already being issued. Despite reporting strong revenue and profits for the January-March quarter -- beating Wall Street expectations -- Microsoft has joined other major tech companies in cutting jobs amid growing economic uncertainty. Among those impacted was Gabriela de Queiroz, Director of AI at Microsoft. De Queiroz shared a heartfelt message on LinkedIn, expressing her sadness and shock at being laid off, despite her extensive contributions to the company. "Bittersweet news to share: I was impacted by Microsoft's latest round of layoffs. Was I expecting it? Maybe. These days, no matter how hard you work, how much you advocate for your company, or how much visibility you bring -- none of that makes you immune to restructuring," she said. Gabriela added, "Am I sad? Absolutely. I'm heartbroken to see so many talented people I've had the honor of working with being let go. These are people who cared deeply, went above and beyond, and truly made a difference." She revealed that although employees were instructed to stop work immediately, she chose to stay on briefly to say goodbye and wrap up ongoing tasks. Remaining optimistic, De Queiroz said she didn't yet know what the future holds but trusts something good will come of the transition. "I'm an optimist at heart. That hasn't changed. My smile, my gratitude, my belief that each day is a gift -- that's all still here." She also acknowledged the scale of the layoffs and offered solidarity to others affected: "To those also affected -- you're not alone. We are at least 6,000." Microsoft has not commented on individual layoffs but has confirmed that the job cuts are part of broader structural adjustments.

Microsoft layoffs hit coders hardest with AI costs on the rise

Microsoft's recent layoffs disproportionately affected software engineers, signaling AI's growing impact on even technical roles. As the company invests heavily in AI, it's scrutinising costs and automating code development, leading to workforce reshaping. Product and technical program management roles also faced significant cuts, while customer-facing positions remained largely unaffected.Microsoft Corp.'s recently announced job cuts fell hardest on the people who build the company's products, showing that even software developers are at risk in the age of artificial intelligence. In Microsoft's home state of Washington, software engineering was by far the largest single job category to receive layoff notices, making up more than 40% of the roughly 2,000 positions cut, according to state documents reviewed by Bloomberg. Microsoft on Tuesday said it would cut about 6,000 workers across the company. The Washington state data represents about a third of the total. As Microsoft and its rivals make steep investments in AI, they are scrutinizing costs and reprioritizing budgets. In recent weeks, Microsoft executives have pledged to keep a lid on spending amid huge investments in data center construction. At the same time, AI-powered tools capable of writing or analyzing code are automating elements of software development previously done by engineers typing away on keyboards. At Microsoft, as much as 30% of some projects' code is now written by AI, Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella said in April. Several tech companies are reshaping their workforces as they focus on AI. Earlier this year, Salesforce Inc. planned to cut over 1,000 employees as it hired for AI-focused sales roles, particularly in sales. CEO Marc Benioff also said the company will reduce its hiring of engineers in 2025 due to the use of AI. When Workday Inc. announced a layoff in February, CEO Carl Eschenbach said hiring would continue in strategic areas like AI. Beyond software engineers, many of the hardest-hit Microsoft personnel ran software projects. Product management and technical program management roles together made up almost 600 of the reductions in Washington, or about 30% of the total. The job cuts also targeted some managers and workers assigned to AI projects, according to a person familiar with the cuts. Relatively few customer-facing roles, such as sales or marketing, were impacted, the data show. Microsoft declined to comment. Microsoft said the layoffs were designed to remove layers of management. But it's not clear how much delayering is actually going on. About 17% of those axed in Washington were classified as managers. The company employed about the same percentage of managers across its entire operation at the end of 2023, according to a workforce report filed with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Microsoft second round of layoffs: From AI director to coders, who have been hit the hardest? Check details

Microsoft layoffs: Microsoft has announced significant layoffs, letting go of approximately 6,000 employees, which accounts for nearly 3% of its global workforce. The layoffs have impacted disproportionately affected software engineers, with over 40% of Washington state cuts hitting coding professionals. Microsoft said the layoffs are part of its efforts to stay competitive and agile as it rapidly integrates AI into its products and services.Microsoft on Tuesday announced it is laying off 3% of employees across all levels, teams and geographies, affecting about 6,000 people. The tech giant employed 228,000 full-time workers as of last June, the last time it reported its annual headcount. About 55% of those workers were in the US. "We continue to implement organizational changes necessary to best position the company for success in a dynamic marketplace," a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement. The massive layoffs come at a time when Microsoft is investing heavily on artificial intelligence that is starting to automate aspects of software development. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella revealed in April that AI now writes up to 30% of code in some Microsoft projects. This is most likely Microsoft's largest round of layoffs since the elimination of 10,000 job roles in the year 2023. In January the company announced a small round of layoffs that were performance-based. These new job cuts are not related to performance, the spokesperson said. ALSO READ: 'No matter how hard you work...': Microsoft AI Director Gabriela de Queiroz pens emotional note after layoff amid 6,000 job cuts The recent layoffs by Microsoft has impacted software engineers the most and this is because wth over 40 percent of approximately 2,000 positions eliminated in Washington state belonging to coding professionals, according to documents reviewed by Bloomberg. Project management roles were notably affected, with product managers and technical program managers making up nearly 30% of the job cuts in Washington, according to Bloomberg. While Microsoft described the layoffs as a move to "reduce management layers," Bloomberg's analysis reveals that only around 17% of the affected employees in Washington were classified as managers -- a proportion similar to their presence in the company overall. The layoffs also included some AI project managers, according to a source familiar with the situation, while relatively few sales and marketing staff in customer-facing roles were impacted. ALSO READ: Microsoft employee reveals how she was fired in 'last-minute meeting' by super boss Gabriela de Queiroz, Director of Artificial Intelligence for Microsoft for Startups, was among those affected in Microsoft's layoffs and shared the "bittersweet" news of her departure on social media. According to Queiroz, staff were asked to stop work immediately after being informed of the decision. She chose to stay on for a bit, attend meetings, and bid farewell to her colleagues, showing her commitment to her team and appreciation for her time at Microsoft. "Bittersweet news to share: I was impacted by Microsoft's latest round of layoffs. Am I sad? Absolutely. I'm heartbroken to see so many talented people I've had the honour of working with being let go. These are people who cared deeply, went above and beyond, and truly made a difference," she wrote along with a picture of herself smiling. ALSO READ: Can Americans trust US health secretary RFK Jr for medical advice on vaccines? He says 'don't take...' "I'm an optimist at heart. That hasn't changed. My smile, my gratitude, my belief that each day is a gift -- that's all still here," she expressed. She ended her post with a note for others impacted by the layoffs. "What's next? I don't know yet. It's too soon to say. But I trust that something good will come out of this. To those also affected -- you're not alone. We are at least 6,000. And to those who've reached out, thank you. Your kindness means everything right now," she concluded the post.

Microsoft Stock Nears Record High As AI-Driven Layoffs Hit Hundreds -- Even AI Director - Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)

Microsoft Corporation MSFT is among the many large technology companies that have announced job cuts in 2025. The company is utilizing the power of artificial intelligence, growth that could make many jobs obsolete in the future. What Happened: Microsoft has announced another round of layoffs, with several company units seeing the impact of less human workers needed due to company proficiencies made with the power of artificial intelligence. Among those that were let go in the latest round of layoffs was Microsoft Director of AI Gabriela de Queiroz, a move that might prove no one is safe from the impact of AI in the workplace. "Am I sad? Absolutely. I'm heartbroken to see so many talented people I've had the honor of working with being let go. These are people who cared deeply, went above and beyond, and truly made a difference," Queiroz said in a tweet. Queiroz said she and others were asked to "stop work immediately," but she chose to stay longer to wrap up what she could and say goodbye. "That felt right to me." The job cuts follow a new report that AI handles up to 30% of Microsoft's coding tasks. A Bloomberg report said Microsoft's software engineers were hardest hit in the latest round of layoffs from the company's Washington home base. Here were the job cut estimates from Bloomberg: Software engineering: 817 Product management: 373 Technical program management: 218 Business program management: 55 Customer experience program management: 44 Product design: 31 In Washington, software engineer roles made up over 40% of the 2,000 positions cut, as reported by Bloomberg. Read Also: Microsoft Q3 Earnings Highlights: Revenue Beat, EPS Beat, CEO Says 'Cloud And AI Are The Essential Inputs' Why It's Important: The latest job cuts could be made for numerous reasons, including cost savings, getting rid of highly paid employees, or, as the International Business Times reports, helping streamline operations with fewer middle management roles. The timing of the layoffs coming after Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella saying 30% of the company's code was now being written by AI likely won't sit well with those scared of jobs being replaced by AI. Microsoft declined to comment to TechCrunch when asked if the layoffs were motivated by the rise of AI-assisted coding. Microsoft said it would cut 6,000 workers in the latest round of job cuts, which follows other technology companies eliminating roles. "We continue to implement organizational changes necessary to best position the company for success in a dynamic marketplace," Microsoft said. The latest round of job cuts follows other layoff moves earlier this year, including those for the company's Xbox division, HoloLens, and Azure cloud computing units. The moves come as Microsoft stock is nearing its all-time highs, levels hit back in July 2024. Microsoft's job cuts and potential improving margins and profitability along with growth from AI and cloud could continue to make the stock attractive in the short and long term for investors. MSFT Price Action: Microsoft stock is up 0.6% to $456.87 on Monday versus a 52-week trading range of $344.79 to $468.35. Microsoft stock is up 9.1% year-to-date in 2025. Read Next: Microsoft Stock Rallies On Q3 Strength Of Azure: Analyst Says Company Is 'Sole AI Leader In Both Apps And Infrastructure' Photo: Shutterstock MSFTMicrosoft Corp$457.660.75%Stock Score Locked: Edge Members Only Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Unlock RankingsEdge RankingsMomentum71.09Growth65.72Quality30.20Value13.81Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewMarket News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Microsoft's Director of AI among 6,000 employees laid off, says don't know what's next

In her post, Queiroz revealed that the affected employees were asked to stop work immediately. Microsoft's recent round of layoffs has reportedly affected around 6,000 employees across various departments, and among those impacted is Gabriela de Queiroz, the company's Director of AI. She shared an emotional and thoughtful post on LinkedIn, reflecting on her time at Microsoft and how she's coping with the unexpected news. "Bittersweet news to share: I was impacted by Microsoft's latest round of layoffs," Queiroz wrote in her post. She mentioned that no matter how much someone contributes or how dedicated they are to the company, it doesn't always guarantee job security. In her post, Queiroz revealed that the affected employees were asked to stop work immediately and "set an out-of-office." She also talked about how she attended meetings and said goodbye to her team even after being asked to stop work immediately. "What's next? I don't know yet. It's too soon to say. But I trust that something good will come out of this," she added. Also read: Google Android Show 2025: Android 16 and Wear OS 6 unveiled with improved design, security and new Find Hub Here's what Gabriela de Queiroz shared on LinkedIn: Bittersweet news to share: I was impacted by Microsoft's latest round of layoffs. Was I expecting it? Maybe. These days, no matter how hard you work, how much you advocate for your company, or how much results and visibility you bring -- whether it's helping Microsoft become a trusted name among AI startups or driving initiatives to make it a better place to work for hundreds of people -- none of that makes you immune to restructuring. Am I sad? Absolutely. I'm heartbroken to see so many talented people I've had the honor of working with being let go. These are people who cared deeply, went above and beyond, and truly made a difference. But if you know me, you know I always look at the bright side. I'm an optimist at heart. That hasn't changed. My smile, my gratitude, my belief that each day is a gift -- that's all still here. We were asked to stop work immediately and set an out-of-office. But I chose to stay a little longer -- showing up for meetings, saying goodbye, wrapping up what I could. That felt right to me. What's next? I don't know yet. It's too soon to say. But I trust that something good will come out of this. To those also affected -- you're not alone. We are at least 6,000.