Xbox Executive's AI Advice to Laid-Off Employees Sparks Controversy

Laid-off workers should use AI to manage their emotions, says Xbox exec

Jess Weatherbed is a news writer focused on creative industries, computing, and internet culture. Jess started her career at TechRadar, covering news and hardware reviews. The sweeping layoffs announced by Microsoft this week have been especially hard on its gaming studios, but one Xbox executive has a solution to "help reduce the emotional and cognitive load that comes with job loss": seek advice from AI chatbots. In a now-deleted LinkedIn post captured by Aftermath, Xbox Game Studios' Matt Turnbull said that he would be "remiss in not trying to offer the best advice I can under the circumstances." The circumstances here being a slew of game cancellations, services being shuttered, studio closures, and job cuts across key Xbox divisions as Microsoft lays off as many as 9,100 employees across the company. Turnbull acknowledged that people have some "strong feelings" about AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot, but suggested that anybody who's feeling "overwhelmed" could use them to get advice about creating resumes, career planning, and applying for new roles. "These are really challenging times, and if you're navigating a layoff or even quietly preparing for one, you're not alone and you don't have to go it alone," Turnbull said. "No Al tool is a replacement for your voice or your lived experience. But at a time when mental energy is scarce, these tools can help get you unstuck faster, calmer, and with more clarity." Microsoft has loudly embraced AI, having announced plans in January to invest $80 billion into AI infrastructure prior to this latest wave of job cuts. That environment might have made Turnbull think his recommendations were reasonable. More broadly, however, generative AI is viewed by some creatives as a threat to creative industries like gaming, which has already struggled with growing layoffs and studio closures over the last few years. It's unclear why Turnbull deleted his LinkedIn post, but if the comments on this repost made to Bluesky are any indication, creatives probably didn't take too kindly to his suggestions. You can read the full text of the deleted post below: "These are really challenging times, and if you're navigating a layoff or even quietly preparing for one, you're not alone and you don't have to go it alone. I know these types of tools engender strong feelings in people, but I'd be remiss in not trying to offer the best advice I can under the circumstances. I've been experimenting with ways to use LLM Al tools (like ChatGPT or Copilot) to help reduce the emotional and cognitive load that comes with job loss. Here are some prompt ideas and use cases that might help if you're feeling overwhelmed: Career Planning Prompts: "Act as a career coach. I've been laid off from a [role] in the game industry. Help me build a 30-day plan to regroup, research new roles, and start applying without burning out." "What kinds of game industry jobs could I pivot to with experience in [Production/Narrative/LiveOps/etc.]?" Resume & Linkedin Help "Here's my current resume. Give me three tailored versions: one for AAA, one for platform/publishing roles, and one for startup/small studio leadership." "Rewrite this resume bullet to highlight impact and metrics." "Draft a new LinkedIn 'About Me' section that focuses on my leadership style, shipped titles, and vision for game development." Networking & Outreach "Draft a friendly message I can send to old coworkers letting them know I'm exploring new opportunities." "Write a warm intro message for reaching out to someone at [studio name] about a job posting." Emotional Clarity & Confidence "I'm struggling with imposter syndrome after being laid off. Can you help me reframe this experience in a way that reminds me what I'm good at?" No Al tool is a replacement for your voice or your lived experience. But at a time when mental energy is scarce, these tools can help get you unstuck faster, calmer, and with more clarity. If this helps, feel free to share with others in your network. Stay kind, stay smart, stay connected."

Lost Your Job? Xbox Exec Says Talk to a Chatbot About Your Feelings

Using chatbots for AI therapy might be discouraged by qualified medical professionals, but that didn't stop one Xbox executive from recommending it in the event of a major job loss. Following a sweeping round of layoffs at Microsoft's Xbox division earlier this month, impacting over 9,000 staff, Xbox Game Studios executive Matt Turnbull recommended a series of prompts to "help reduce the emotional and cognitive load that comes with job loss." He addressed anyone "navigating a job layoff or even quietly preparing for one." In a now-deleted post, spotted by Xbox news site Aftermath, the executive recommended that laid-off workers could consider typing prompts such as: "I'm struggling with imposter syndrome after being laid off. Can you help me reframe this experience in a way that reminds me what I'm good at?" Turnbull also provided template prompts for things like career planning tailored for your specific job role, resume and LinkedIn advice, and networking and outreach. Users on social media were quick to point out the potential irony of asking an AI chatbot for advice on coping with your job loss -- many are already pointing the finger at AI for replacing a multitude of jobs in the video game industry. In the past few years, we've seen many impressive demonstrations of how AI can be used for video game art, coding, level design, and even writing and voice-overs. To add insult to injury, the executive suggested readers use Microsoft's Copilot or OpenAI's ChatGPT, tools either owned or partially owned by Microsoft, the laid-off Xbox employees' former employer. "If they are out of bread, then let them eat cake," said one Reddit poster in response to the suggestions, a saying attributed to Marie Antoinette, a French queen executed during the French Revolution. "Correction: Let them print off an AI-generated recipe for cake," added another user. Another user on Bluesky commented: "Executives need to be replaced with automation." Microsoft is at the forefront of using AI for game development tools with its generative AI tool 'Muse', showcasing the ability to generate playable versions of pre-existing titles. Meanwhile, outside of the world of video games, only 23% of Americans predict AI will have a positive impact on how people do their jobs, while Microsoft founder Bill Gates said earlier this year that humans one day won't be needed for "most things."

How AI can help you navigate layoffs, according to one executive producer at Xbox

Can an LLM "help reduce the emotional and cognitive load that comes with job loss?" It's been a rough week at Microsoft. Following the news that at the company, one Xbox executive offered some questionable words of advice for people on their way out: Find solace in Microsoft Copilot. , Matt Turnbull, an executive producer at Xbox Game Studios Publishing who clearly did not lose his job recently, took to LinkedIn to let folks know, "You're not alone and you don't have to go it alone." In the same breath as acknowledging that AI evokes "strong feelings in people," Turnbull suggested that LLMs like ChatGPT and Copilot could "help reduce the emotional and cognitive load that comes with job loss." Turnbull went on to provide specific AI prompts that he recommended for recently laid-off people, including, "Write a warm intro message for reaching out to someone at [studio name] about a job posting." He explained how an LLM could aid overwhelmed developers in planning their careers and punching up their resumés, and also help with "emotional clarity and confidence." The post was circulated by Necrosoft Games director and host Brandon Sheffield, where it received a predictably negative reaction. According to Video Games Chronicle, LinkedIn users were similarly unimpressed. Turnbull deleted the post a few hours later. Here's the full text from the LinkedIn post: Turnbull's post, however earnest, comes at a time when Microsoft is seemingly all-in on both AI and layoffs. The 9,000 job losses this week add to over . Microsoft President Brad Smith began 2025 by committing to spend around $80 billion on AI infrastructure through the year, and CEO Satya Nadella recently shared that is now authored by AI. Just last week, Business Insider reported on another executive telling employees that using Copilot is "" in an internal memo. One developer at Halo Studios, which was affected by the layoffs, told Engadget's Jessica Conditt that they felt Xbox leadership was looking to "replace as many jobs as they can with AI agents."

Xbox exec suggests people use AI to lessen the pain of being laid off

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. Facepalm: Never underestimate an executive's ability to say something that shows a breathtaking lack of awareness. Take a look at Matt Turnbull, Executive Producer at Xbox Games Studio Publishing, for example, who suggested that anyone who has been laid off should reduce "the emotional and cognitive load" that comes with such an awful event by using AI tools. It's an especially jarring comment considering the number of people who are losing their jobs at Microsoft as the company pours billions into AI. Turnbull has very wisely removed his post, but it was captured by Necrosoft's Brandon Sheffield. The exec started by mentioning these are challenging times - particularly for the 9,000 Microsoft workers who have recent been laid off in the company's fourth round of layoffs in 18 months. Matt Turnbull, Executive Producer at Xbox Game Studios Publishing - after the Microsoft layoffs - suggesting on Linkedin that may maybe people who have been let go should turn to AI for help. He seriously thought posting this would be a good idea. [image or embed] - Brandon Sheffield ( @brandon.insertcredit.com) July 4, 2025 at 4:48 AM Turnbull said he has been experimenting with ways to use LLM AI tools, including Microsoft's own Copilot, to help reduce "the emotional and cognitive load" that comes with job loss. Turnbull also notes that the newly unemployed are "not alone," though he, of course, was not among those laid off. Turnbull helpfully included a series of prompt ideas that he believes might help someone who has just lost their livelihood and is feeling "overwhelmed." These included asking an AI to help with career planning, resume and LinkedIn drafts, and networking. The most impressive prompt suggestion was one for "Emotional Clarity and Confidence," which read, "I'm struggling with impostor syndrome after being laid off. Can you help me reframe this experience in a way that reminds me what I'm good at?" Turnbull then informed laid-off people that these AI tools can help them "get unstuck faster, calmer, and with more clarity." He also suggests sharing his message with others, somehow managing not to include the popular "no need to thank me" line. In addition to laying off thousands of people, Turnbull's employer is spending an estimated $80 billion on AI infrastructure over the next financial year, so don't be surprised to see more people replaced as agentic agents take over. Despite what were obviously good intentions, Turnbull's post is so tone-deaf - even by LinkedIn standards - that one might think an AI wrote it. At least he had the sense to delete it. Several company CEOs have started admitting that the increased use of AI in businesses will lead to job cuts. Amazon's Andy Jassy said it will replace some corporate workers at the firm, while Ford CEO Jim Farley and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei have said the technology could decimate white-collar jobs. Leaders at Shopify, JPMorgan Chase, Fiverr, Moderna, and other big companies are now saying the same thing. Despite all this investment, AI often isn't the magical, money-saving tool many execs believe it is. We recently heard that call center workers were finding that their AI assistants created more problems than they solve.

Xbox producer suggests laid-off staff should use AI to deal with emotions

An Xbox producer has faced a backlash after suggesting laid-off employees should use artificial intelligence to deal with emotions in a now deleted LinkedIn post. Matt Turnbull, an executive producer at Xbox Game Studios Publishing, wrote the post after Microsoft confirmed it would lay off up to 9,000 workers, in a wave of job cuts this year. The post, which was captured in a screenshot by tech news site Aftermath, shows Mr Turnbull suggesting tools like ChatGPT or Copilot to "help reduce the emotional and cognitive load that comes with job loss." One X user called it "plain disgusting" while another said it left them "speechless". The BBC has contacted Microsoft, which owns Xbox, for comment.

The New Corporate Memo: Let AI Ease The Pain

An Xbox executive's solution for laid off staff? Let a chatbot handle the grief and career planning. Welcome to corporate care in 2025. A troubling new trend is crystallizing in the tech industry. A company at the forefront of AI development lays off thousands of its human employees, then encourages them to seek comfort from the very technology supplanting them. It's the automation of suffering, and it’s happening now. This week, Matt Turnbull, an Executive Producer at Xbox Game Studios Publishing, became a case study. Following Microsoft's decision to cut thousands jobs from its gaming division, Turnbull took to LinkedIn. With what seems like good intentions, he encouraged former employees to turn to AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot to manage the emotional and logistical fallout. "These are really challenging times, and if you're navigating a layoff or even quietly preparing for one, you're not alone and you don't have to go it alone," his post began. "I know these types of tools engender strong feelings in people, but I'd be remiss in not trying to offer the best advice I can under the circumstances." He continued: "I've been experimenting with ways to use LLM AI tools (like ChatGPT or Copilot) to help reduce the emotional and cognitive load that comes with job loss." The message landed with a surreal thud. Microsoft, which just ended your employment, was now outsourcing your emotional support to a bot. The July layoffs hit Xbox Game Studios. Alongside the job cuts, Microsoft announced that ambitious titles like Perfect Dark and Everwild are being canceled, and at least one studio, The Initiative, one of Microsoft’s newer, high-profile studios, is being closed entirely. In his now deleted post captured by Aftermath, Turnbull even offered prompt templates to help the newly unemployed start their conversations with the AI. He categorized the prompts like a self help guide for the digital age: The message is clear: AI is your new therapist and outplacement service, rolled into one. Where a hefty severance package from a large corporation once included connections to human career coaches, AI now appears to be the cheaper, more scalable solution. While the prompts themselves may be useful, the gesture feels hollow coming from a leader at the company responsible for the layoffs. This is a stark redefinition of corporate care: outsourced, AI assisted, and quietly depersonalized. It’s a chilling reframing of the social contract, where even empathy is routed through software. This is the tech world's cynical feedback loop. The same industry obsessed with automating jobs is now positioning its products as the cure for the emotional damage it inflicts. Microsoft, which has invested over $13 billion into OpenAI, has a direct financial stake in this solution. When an executive at a Microsoft owned studio promotes ChatGPT or its own Copilot as the first resource for the unemployed, it blurs the line between genuine concern and brand alignment. Empathy becomes a use case. Trauma becomes another customer journey. Traditionally, outplacement services offered a human touch. As LLMs become more powerful, the corporate pressure to automate post layoff support will only grow. A chatbot can rewrite your resume, coach you for interviews, and talk you down from a mental spiral, at least in theory. But what gets lost in that shift? What happens to the human dignity of grief, reflection, and real connection during a time of professional crisis? Even Turnbull acknowledged the tension in his post: “No AI tool is a replacement for your voice or your lived experience. But at a time when mental energy is scarce, these tools can help get you unstuck faster, calmer, and with more clarity.†Turnbull's post isn't an isolated incident; it's a flare signaling a major cultural shift in tech, where recovery is being privatized, individualized, and automated. There's a strange, unnerving optimism embedded in all this: the belief that you can prompt your way out of pain. But pain isn’t a productivity issue. And a layoff isn’t a user experience problem. If the only support a worker receives is from a chatbot trained on the internet's vast archive of trauma, we are witnessing the dawn of something much darker than a downturn. We are seeing the first wave of algorithmic grief management, sanctioned by the very forces that deemed human workers disposable in the first place.

Following mass layoffs, Xbox exec recommends AI to cope

The thousands of recently terminated Microsoft employees, navigating one of the company's largest layoffs in years amid a period of industry upheaval, already have a tool to cope with the emotional burden, according to one Xbox exec: Microsoft Copilot. The sentiment was shared in a now-deleted LinkedIn post by Xbox Game Studios Publishing executive producer Matt Turnbull, captured at the time by gaming blog Aftermath, which reads: "I know these types of tools engender strong feelings in people, but I'd be remiss in not trying to offer the best advice I can under the circumstances. I've been experimenting with ways to use LLM AI tools (like ChatGPT or CoPilot) to help reduce the emotional and cognitive load that comes with job loss." On July 1, Xbox's parent company announced it would be terminating around 9,000 employees -- about four percent of its workforce -- in a move intended to ensure the company was set up for success in a "dynamic marketplace." The job cuts affected the company's gaming division, mainly Xbox staffers -- just a few months prior, Microsoft cut 6,000 jobs, providing the same reasoning as recent layoffs and in the wake of a round of cuts in 2023 that saw 10,000 employees heading out its doors. Many tech companies have been whittling down their workforces, citing changing markets and the impact of generative AI. A handful of CEOs, including Meta's Mark Zuckerberg and Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski, have outrightly stated their intent to replace jobs and workflows with AI. "At a time when mental energy is scarce, these tools can help get you unstuck faster, calmer, and with more clarity," Turnbull wrote, recommending using CoPilot for help with both job hunting and gaining "emotional clarity and confidence." Microsoft CoPilot has reportedly become a non-negotiable for Microsoft employees in recent months, as it struggles to sell the assistant to other companies. In May, CEO Mustafa Suleyman said the company was trying to market CoPilot as an emotionally therapeutic confidant to Gen Z and millennial customers, with the agent now able to "sense a user's comfort boundaries, diagnose issues, and suggest solutions," reported Fortune. Broadly, professionals have warned about using AI-powered chatbots as a replacement for human therapy and emotional connection. In January, the American Psychological Association sent a letter urging the Federal Trade Commission to investigate harmful chatbots that deceptively advertise psychological or mental health support. The use of AI tools by therapists themselves, including agentic AI, recording and transcription tools, and notetakers, has prompted further concerns about digital privacy. But tech is still courting consumers by building more "emotionally intelligent" agents, including Microsoft's CoPilot. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has called ChatGPT a life adviser for young adults, for example, even as watchdogs have warned about using the tool for therapy.

AI can provide 'emotional clarity and confidence' Xbox executive producer tells staff after Microsoft lays off 9,000 employees

Microsoft has laid off 9,000 employees in recent months while investing heavily in AI. Microsoft has been hyping up its AI ambitions for the last several years, but one executive's pitch about the power of AI to former employees who were recently let go has landed with an awkward thud. Amid the largest round of layoffs in over two years, about 9,000 people, Matt Turnbull, Executive Producer at Xbox Game Studios Publishing, suggested that AI chatbots could help those affected process their grief, craft resumes, and rebuild their confidence. The gesture was meant for support, but it left many game developers feeling outraged. Turnbull took his possibly well-meaning but definitely poorly phrased and timed message to LinkedIn. He shared ideas for prompts to give an AI chatbot that he claimed might help laid-off colleagues navigate career uncertainty and emotional turbulence. The backlash was swift and angry, leading him to delete the post, but you can still read it thanks to Brandon Sheffield's Bluesky post below. Matt Turnbull, Executive Producer at Xbox Game Studios Publishing - after the Microsoft layoffs - suggesting on Linkedin that may maybe people who have been let go should turn to AI for help. He seriously thought posting this would be a good idea. -- @brandon.insertcredit.com ( @brandon.insertcredit.com.bsky.social) 2025-07-07T07:54:06.534Z Turnbull urged colleagues to lean on AI to reduce the "emotional and cognitive load" of job loss in his post, along with the prompt ideas for 30-day recovery plans and LinkedIn messages. Probably the most eyebrow-raising suggestion was suggesting a prompt to help reframe impostor syndrome after being laid off. "No AI tool is a replacement for your voice or lived experience," Turnbull wrote. "But in times when mental energy is scarce, these tools can help you get unstuck faster, calmer, and with more clarity." Even the most charitable interpretation of his post can't overlook just how condescending and poorly timed the advice is. And angry game developers flooded the comments, likely leading to the deletion of the post. To put it mildly, they don't agree that being laid off is an emotional puzzle best solved with an algorithm. Instead, perhaps a human might understand the career and life upheaval it represents, and how that requires human compassion, support networks, and tangible help, like, say, an introduction to someone who can help you get a new job. This incident is even worse in the context of Microsoft spending billions building AI infrastructure while dramatically shrinking its gaming teams. Urging laid-off developers to lean on AI right after losing their jobs is more than hypocritical; it's telling people to use the very technology that may have caused their job loss. To be scrupulously and overly fair to Turnbull, using AI could help with some mental health concerns and might be useful in improving a resume or preparing for a job interview. Making AI part of outplacement services isn't a horrible idea. It could boost the internal coaching and career-transition arm Microsoft offers already, adding to the recruiters, résumé workshops, and counselling it offers. But it can't and shouldn't replace those human services. And having one of the people who let you go tell you to use AI to find a new job is the opposite of supportive. It's just an insult on top of injury. Microsoft's dual approach of laying people off and doubling down on AI infrastructure is a test of its company culture as much as its technical ability. Will we see a new standard where layoffs come with AI prompt packages instead of counseling and severance? If the message is, "Feel free to use chatbots to help you after we fire you," expect plenty more outrageous, tone-deaf nonsense from executives. Perhaps they should ask those chatbots how to interact with human beings without angering them, since it's a lesson they haven't learned well.

After 9,000 Layoffs, Microsoft Boss Has Brutal Advice for Sacked Workers

Microsoft has laid off about 9,000 workers in the midst of a newly-announced $80 billion AI investment -- and apparently, those who just lost their jobs should be talking to ChatGPT about it. As Aftermath reports, an executive producer at Microsoft-owned Xbox ended up with egg on his face after suggesting that laid off workers pour their hearts out to AI. "These are really challenging times, and if you're navigating a layoff or even quietly preparing for one, you're not alone and you don't have to go it alone," that producer, Matt Turnbull, said in a since-deleted LinkedIn post that Aftermath thankfully screenshotted for posterity. "No AI tool is a replacement for your voice or your lived experience. But at a time when mental energy is scarce, these tools can help get you unstuck faster, calmer, and with more clarity." "I know these types of tools engender strong feelings in people, but l'd be remiss in not trying to offer the best advice I can under the circumstances," he continued. "I've been experimenting with ways to use [large language model] Al tools (like ChatGPT or Copilot) to help reduce the emotional and cognitive load that comes with job loss." Yes, you read that right: a Microsoft boss was telling those just laid off by the tech giant that they should use chatbots -- run or funded by the company that just fired them -- to avoid crying on a company shoulder. Following that phoned-in introduction, Turnbull offered a few potential prompts for AI as a job loss grief counselor, including those that help with career planning, resume-building, networking, and, our personal favorite, "emotional clarity [and] confidence." "I'm struggling with imposter syndrome after being laid off," Turnbull's "clarity" prompt reads. "Can you help me reframe this experience in a way that reminds me what I'm good at?" It comes as little surprise, given how absolutely tone-deaf those suggestions are, that folks on social media had quite a lot to say to the Xbox executive. "The new Severance season is insanely good," joked one commentator on X-formerly-Twitter. As another irked observer wrote on the r/gaming subreddit, "anyone that tells people who were fired to talk to a computer chat algorithm for therapy is insane." Indeed, gamers seem to be the most affronted by Turnbull's attempt at sensitivity and advice, with another X commentator remarking that his response to those layoffs was one of "the most tone-deaf and cruelest things" they'd ever seen. "I hope this finally shatters the illusion for some people that Xbox is not your good buddy," that same user quipped. Though it's hard to say whether the Xbox producer's sentiments were sincere or not, it's clear from the subsequent deletion of the post that he was made to feel some type of way about it after putting it out into the world -- and honestly, that potential embarrassment is the most we can hope for with these sorts of tech bros.

Xbox exec suffers bout of terminal LinkedIn brain, suggests folks laid off by Microsoft use AI to 'reduce the emotional and cognitive load that comes with job loss'

History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes -- every so often, in times of deep economic equality, someone with a thick paycheck or accumulated wealth will waltz up and say something so mind-bogglingly disconnected from good sense and empathy that it becomes enshrined as an example of what not to say. The latest entrant to the "Let them eat cake" hall of fame comes courtesy of Matt Turnbull, Executive Producer at Xbox Games Studio Publishing who, in a since-deleted LinkedIn post (shared here by Necrosoft's Brandon Sheffield), suggested that anyone facing anxiety about their livelihoods crumbling under them use AI to help. Matt Turnbull, Executive Producer at Xbox Game Studios Publishing - after the Microsoft layoffs - suggesting on Linkedin that may maybe people who have been let go should turn to AI for help. He seriously thought posting this would be a good idea. -- @brandon.insertcredit.com ( @brandon.insertcredit.com.bsky.social) 2025-07-04T10:49:40.295Z He writes: "These are really challenging times, and if you're navigating a layoff or just preparing for one" -- like the layoffs your company literally just pushed forward, Turnbull? -- "You're not alone and you don't have to go it alone." In a textbook use of passive voice, he then goes on to suggest people "use LLM AI tools (like ChatGPT or Copilot) to help reduce the emotional and cognitive load that comes with job loss", talking about layoffs as though it's an inevitable medical condition. He follows this up with a series of 'helpful' prompts for folks struggling after being laid off in random, often capricious ways. These include everything from asking a LLM to rewrite your resume, to networking and outreach, to emotional support. Turnbull suggests anyone feeling down in the dumps prompt a language model with the following: "I'm struggling with impostor syndrome after being laid off. Can you help me reframe this in a way that reminds me what I'm good at?" Yikes. Here is where I'd usually point out that telling the recently-jobless they're "not alone", then encouraging them to use an unthinking, unfeeling machine to output general positive platitudes is incredibly ghoulish. Unfortunately, I've hit my monthly limit for nonsense four days into July, so I'm going to go scream into a pillow for a couple of minutes. Phew, all better. Alright, let's attempt a charitable read. It's entirely possible that Turnbull's had his head in the sand, does genuinely feel for those facing job insecurity, and simply got it wrong. He at least had enough self-awareness to delete his post. Points for basic self-improvement. On the other hand, given Microsoft's been pushing AI like it's the second coming of techno-Christ, and that the industry at-large has been struggling with haphazardly-applied AI tech booting people out of their positions and work to make the line go up (ever up, the line must never stop going), Turnbull might've self-reflected a little harder before he posted this rot. Anyway, given how quickly the pipeline goes from proselytizing about AI to finding out AI can't actually do the thing that's promised (around 4 months, for Netflix's former VP for GenAI games), I can't wait for this new, dark dimension of LinkedIn culture to peter out. If Turnbull's sudden 180 is any indication, we won't be waiting long. Probably. Hopefully. Please?

XBox exec suggests Microsoft laid off employees ask AI for help

Subscribe to the Daily newsletter.Fast Company's trending stories delivered to you every day It's not that AI isn't useful. It absolutely is. It can help you write a killer résumé, and find your next job. The swift reaction to the post showcased, not that people hate AI, but that sensitivity, especially in regard to how companies treat workers in regard to AI, deeply matters. While the technology is being broadly embraced -- even largely by those in gaming and other creative fields -- 41% of employees are afraid of losing their jobs to AI. The onus is on leaders to ensure they aren't making employees feel obsolete, insignificant, or useless, as AI uses expand. While the intentions may have been good, a post pushing AI on people who just lost their jobs to AI, doesn't exactly say empathy. BlueSky user Brandon Sheffield hit the nail on the head in a post on the ill-timed advice, writing, "Something I've realized over time is people in general lack the ability to think in a broader scope and include context and eventualities. But after thousands of people get laid off from your company maybe don't suggest they turn to the thing you're trying to replace them with for solace." It doesn't help that Phil Spencer, another XBox exec, has come under fire for a leaked email which was reportedly sent to the since-fired employees. In it, he seemed to rave about how well the company is doing. "I recognize that these changes come at a time when we have more players, games, and gaming hours than ever before. Our platform, hardware, and game roadmap have never looked stronger."

Xbox producer faces backlash after suggesting fired employees should use AI to get new jobs

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. TweakTown may also earn commissions from other affiliate partners at no extra cost to you. Matt Turnbull, an executive producer at Xbox Game Studios Publishing, has found himself in hot water after he suggested that the recently let-go 9,000 Microsoft workers should use artificial intelligence-powered tools to help deal with their emotions surrounding losing their jobs. In what appears to be the latest completely tone-deaf response to the widespread layoffs hitting Xbox and companies under its umbrella, the public's response to this message from Turnbull was vitriolic, causing the Xbox Game Studios Publishing executive to remove the post from his LinkedIn account. One X user called Turnbull's suggestion "plain disgusting," while another wrote on LinkedIn, "I had to read this twice to make sure it wasn't satire." This suggestion from Turnbull has come at a time when Microsoft has pledged to invest $80 billion into developing AI, which, to many, is part of the reason why the company decided to lay off 9,000 employees across its various divisions. To many affected by these layoffs, or simply anyone looking in from the outside, Turnbull's suggestion reads, "To get through your current emotional state caused by the job loss, use the tool that has seemingly replaced you." This suggestion from Turnbull is the equivalent of saying you should ask your replacement for advice on how to cope with being fired. Turnbull's lengthy LinkedIn post has since been removed, but not before numerous screenshots were made and have now begun circulating on social media platforms. The Xbox Game Studios Publishing executive even suggested to laid-off employees to use his AI prompts he provided within the post, such as "I'm struggling with imposter syndrome after being laid off. Can you help me reframe this experience in a way that reminds me what I'm good at?"

The Head of Xbox Just Gave a Masterclass in How Not to 'Cheer Up' Newly Fired Staff

As AI takes over discussions about hiring and firing, sometimes it's not quite clear if a company's layoff round is a result of the controversial tech, or merely a reflection of a business' changing fortunes. In other cases, such as with Microsoft's recent layoffs affecting 9,000 workers at the tech giant's Xbox games division, it's pretty clearly due to increased AI use -- as a fumbled company email from the business unit's CEO, Phil Spencer, made clear. And if the layoffs and poorly worded messaging weren't bad enough for the people whose jobs were cut, it's emerged that Xbox Game Studios executive Matt Turnbull, in an effort to reach out to recently fired staff, suggested that they actually use AI tech to "help reduce the emotional and cognitive load that comes with job loss."

Xbox Producer Tells Laid-Off Workers to Turn to AI For Advice If They're Feeling 'Overwhelmed'

Turnbull deleted his post by the time of writing after a swift backlash. After Microsoft laid off 9,000 workers last week, 4% of its global workforce, one employee had an unusual message for those let go: turn to ChatGPT to help relieve the emotional burden. Xbox executive producer Matt Turnbull wrote last week in a now-deleted LinkedIn post that amid these "really challenging times," employees are "not alone" and they "don't have to go it alone." Instead, they can use AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot "to help reduce the emotional and cognitive load that comes with job loss," Turnbull wrote. He completed the post with some prompt ideas and use cases of AI that could help if laid-off workers are "feeling overwhelmed." The use cases included resume tailoring, networking messages, and career planning. Related: Microsoft Claims Its AI Is Better Than Doctors at Diagnosing Patients, But 'You Definitely Still Need Your Physician' "No AI tool is a replacement for your voice or your lived experience," Turnbull wrote in the post. "But at a time when mental energy is scarce, these tools can help you get unstuck faster, calmer, and with more clarity." Turnbull experienced swift backlash from other professionals on LinkedIn for his post and eventually deleted it, according to Tech Radar. According to his LinkedIn profile, he was not impacted by Microsoft's layoffs last week. As Microsoft lays off workers, it continues to invest deeply in AI. The company is spending $80 billion this year to build data centers for AI models. Related: Amazon Intends to Spend Over $100 Billion on AI This Year. Here's How It Compares to Google, Meta, and Microsoft. AI is also taking over coding at Microsoft. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in a sit-down chat with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in April that Microsoft engineers are using AI to write 20% to 30% of code for company projects. He stated that the amount of code created by AI varies based on the programming language. AI writes "fantastic" Python code but "not that great" C++ code, Nadella noted. Other tech companies are spending heavily on AI and using it in daily operations, too. Google CEO Sundar Pichai said on an earnings call in April that Google was using AI to write "well over 30%" of new code, while Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in January that Meta is developing AI to write code on par with a mid-level engineer. Google is spending up to $75 billion on AI this year, while Meta is spending up to $65 billion. Microsoft is one of the most valuable companies in the world at the time of writing, second only to Nvidia, with a market cap of $3.7 trillion.

Xbox executive producer offers "best advice I can" to those caught up in Microsoft's latest lay-off spree - AI prompts to "help reduce the emotional and cognitive load that comes with job loss"

Earlier this week, a massive new wave of Microsoft layoffs - which impacted many employees across the company's gaming division and led to a number of cancelled games - was announced. It's grim news across the board, especially for anyone directly affected, but one executive producer at Xbox Game Studios Publishing suggests that those struggling should turn to AI for emotional support and career advice. In a LinkedIn post first flagged by game dev Brandon Sheffield on Bluesky (also shared by Aftermath), executive producer Matt Turnbull acknowledges that "these are really challenging times," and wants to "offer the best advice I can under the circumstances." He then explains that "I've been experimenting with ways to use LLM Al tools (like ChatGPT or Copilot) to help reduce the emotional and cognitive load that comes with job loss." Turnbull goes on to share a number of "prompt ideas and use cases that might help if you're feeling overwhelmed," from asking AI to "act as a career coach," to suggesting new jobs individuals could pivot to, and rewriting parts of resumes and drafting fresh LinkedIn "about me" sections. One suggestion even includes drafting "a friendly message" to send to former co-workers "letting them know I'm exploring new opportunities," and writing "a warm intro message" to send to pursue job listings. The section that perhaps stands out the most, however, is the section on "emotional clarity and confidence." Turnbull suggests turning to an emotionless AI program and saying something along the lines of "I'm struggling with imposter syndrome after being laid off. Can you help me reframe this experience in a way that reminds me what I'm good at?" We can no longer see what the responses to this on LinkedIn were like, because the post has now been deleted. However, on Bluesky, many are having the reaction you'd expect: "Yikes." Another user says: "It's like a total disconnection from reality. I'm sure he thinks he's helping those people laid off, but what the heck." Turnbull had noted that "these types of tools engender strong feelings in people," which is a bit of an understatement. Amid rising concerns about jobs being replaced by AI (not to mention the surrounding issues, such as environmental impact and what the growing use of generative AI might mean for human creativity), its use is controversial at the best of times. But right on the back of a huge number of people actually losing their jobs? You can understand why so many people are angry.

Xbox producer recommends ChatGPT, Copilot prompts to laid off Microsoft staff - The Economic Times

Losing your job is difficult enough. Getting AI prompts suggestions to ask chatbots for help is adding salt to injury. That's exactly what followed wide layoffs at Microsoft's Xbox unit, when an executive producer suggested that affected employees seek advice and emotional support from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots. In a now-deleted LinkedIn post, Matt Turnbull, an executive producer at Xbox Games Studios Publishing, gave a list of prompts to reduce the "emotional and cognitive load" in difficult moments like these. The tech major last week handed pink slips to 9,000 employees, cancelled games and services and closed studios, while announcing an $80 billion investment in AI. "No Al tool is a replacement for your voice or your lived experience. But at a time when mental energy is scarce, these tools can help get you unstuck faster, calmer, and with more clarity," Turnbull wrote. Calling the recent Microsoft layoffs "challenging", Turbull said he would be "remiss in not trying to offer the best advice" in such circumstances, adding that he has been exploring AI tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Microsoft's Copilot for help with the emotional and cognitive stress that comes with losing a job. Here's the list of prompts he suggested: Career planning prompts- Resume & LinkedIn help- Networking & Outreach- ET reported last month that managers within Xbox are expecting substantial cuts across the entire group affecting nearly 617 employees working in the Seattle office. It was the fourth major layoff at Xbox in the past 18 months, following three major cuts last year and the closure of several subsidiaries. In May, Microsoft introduced a two-year ban on rehiring employees who were let go due to performance issues, calling the job cuts 'good attrition'.

Xbox exec tells laid-off staff to use ChatGPT abd backlash ensues

This week, Microsoft dropped a bombshell: more than 9,000 employees are being laid off. The Xbox division was hit particularly hard, with as much as one fifth of the team reportedly gone. A tragedy for the staff and for the industry as a whole. In the midst of this, Matt Turnbull, head of Xbox Game Studios, suggested that those affected turn to AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot for support and comfort. His intention was to help ease both the emotional toll and the practical challenges of job loss. In a LinkedIn post (now deleted), he shared example prompts -- for structuring job searches, writing sharp résumés, and even receiving emotional support -- and explained: I know these types of tools engender strong feelings in people, but I'd be remiss in not trying to offer the best advice I can under the circumstances. I've been experimenting with ways to use LLM AI tools (like ChatGPT or Copilot) to help reduce the emotional and cognitive load that comes with job loss. Tactless? Yep -- and most people seemed to agree. The post sparked a wave of backlash, especially among creatives in the games industry, who saw it as cold and dehumanizing. Technically, there's nothing wrong with using AI to support a job hunt. But recommending it right after a massive wave of layoffs -- many of which are suspected to be tied to AI replacing human labor -- feels a bit like handing out a life jacket to someone who's already drowned.

After Microsoft Lays Off 9,100 Workers, Xbox Executive Tells Fired Workers To Turn To AI For Mental Health Help - Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG), Bumble (NASDAQ:BMBL)

As Microsoft Corporation MSFT reels from sweeping layoffs affecting 9,100 employees, an Xbox executive's suggestion to use AI chatbots for emotional support has ignited fierce backlash online. What Happened: Last week, Matt Turnbull, a leader at Xbox Game Studios, posted on LinkedIn that laid-off workers could turn to tools like ChatGPT and Copilot to cope with job loss and navigate their next steps. "At a time when mental energy is scarce, these tools can help get you unstuck faster, calmer and with more clarity," Turnbull wrote. He also shared prompt suggestions, such as asking AI to act as a career coach, improve resumes, or help reframe imposter syndrome. His post drew immediate criticism and was later deleted. The backlash was swift across social media platforms, with people calling the advice tone-deaf, particularly in light of Microsoft's ongoing $80 billion investment in AI infrastructure. See Also: Jensen Huang Gave $12.6 Million To Charity, Then Nvidia's Stock Made It Billions Subscribe to the Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox. Why It's Important: The layoffs impact under 4% of Microsoft's global workforce, spanning various teams and regions. Within its gaming division -- which includes Candy Crush owner King -- Microsoft cut 200 jobs, continuing its workforce downsizing after shedding 6,000 roles in May. In June, Rivian Automotive, Inc. RIVN cut about 140 jobs (1% of its workforce), mainly in manufacturing. Bumble, Inc. BMBL announced it would lay off around 240 employees (30% of its staff) to boost efficiency and fund new product development. Alphabet Inc.'s GOOG GOOGL Google reduced its smart TV division by 25% (about 75 jobs) to shift resources toward AI projects. Intel Corp INTC plans to cut 15-20% of its Foundry division and exit its automotive business to become more efficient. Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings show that MSFT maintains a strong upward trend over the short, medium and long term. Its momentum score remains robust, though its value ranking is comparatively weaker. You can find more detailed performance data here. Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by following this link. Photo Courtesy: katuSka on Shutterstock.com Read Next: Amazon Loses Top AI Leader In High-Stakes Talent Shuffle Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. BMBLBumble Inc$6.50-1.96%Stock Score Locked: Want to See it? Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Reveal Full ScoreEdge RankingsMomentum15.74Growth11.90QualityNot AvailableValue43.00Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewGOOGAlphabet Inc$180.540.43%GOOGLAlphabet Inc$179.500.48%INTCIntel Corp$22.432.51%MSFTMicrosoft Corp$498.001.41%RIVNRivian Automotive Inc$13.091.71%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs