Microsoft’s AI future has fewer jobs

Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to 60,000 employees across the US, UK, Canada, and India, as part of a plan to lower operating costs and headcount by investing in AI infrastructure. This move is a continuation of the company's ongoing efforts to reduce headcount and increase investment in AI, after laying off 4,800 employees in the past few months, including those in Xbox and commercial sales teams. Microsoft's overall headcount has also decreased for the first time in a decade, with a 2.2% decrease to 223,000 employees as of June 30th, down from 228,000 in 2025. CEO Satya Nadella has been hinting at this shift in strategy for the past couple of years, aiming to increase the productivity of remaining employees by offering higher salaries and more tools and AI power.