Microsoft boss offers callous advice to workers who'd just been fired because of AI advances
The company cut approximately 9,000 jobs last week, many in its gaming division, as it continues to shift focus and invest tens of billions of dollars into artificial intelligence.
Matt Turnbull, an executive producer at Xbox Game Studios Publishing, posted AI-generated prompts to LinkedIn offering laid-off workers help with career planning, résumé writing, and even emotional support.
The post, which has since been deleted, sparked swift criticism across social media where users called him 'out of touch' and 'tone-deaf.'
'These are really challenging times,' Turnbull wrote, encouraging displaced employees to use chatbots to help manage feelings of impostor syndrome and reframe their layoff experiences in a more positive light.
His message included suggestions for using AI to develop 30-day job search plans and tailor résumés for different industries.
The remarks came just days after Microsoft shut down several major studios, including Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks, following layoffs at Xbox, Activision Blizzard, and Bethesda.
While Microsoft has committed roughly $80 billion to expanding its AI infrastructure, critics say the company's rapid downsizing of human staff highlights a growing divide between its investment in automation and its treatment of employees.
'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,' Turnbull wrote.
Daily Mail reached out to Turnbull for comment, but has yet to receive a response.
The debate surrounding his now-deleted LinkedIn post highlighted a broader conversation about AI's role in the workplace.
Turnbull's advice emphasized that AI could not replace the 'lived experience' of workers but suggested it could help them get 'unstuck faster, calmer, and with more clarity' in a time of limited mental energy.
'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 added.
However, experts have said that his comments lacked empathy and for the irony of recommending AI as a coping tool when Microsoft is at the forefront of AI development, potentially displacing human workers.
The backlash was immediate, with many former Microsoft employees and industry professionals calling Turnbull's comments insensitive.
Eric Smith, a Zenimax Online producer who was laid off this week, said: 'Jesus Christ, read the room dude.'
In a now-deleted LinkedIn post, Matt Turnbull offered AI prompts for career planning and emotional support, which received criticism for its tone-deafness and sparked swift backlash
Paul Murphy, a Game designer, wrote: 'I'm sure you're trying to help, but WTF. You hired these folks once.'
'At least give them the respect they've earned and assume they have the ability to write their own resumes,' he added.
The irony of the situation became even more pronounced when you consider Microsoft's role as both a leader in AI and a company overseeing large-scale layoffs.
The company has made substantial investments in AI tools like Copilot and ChatGPT, which are designed to help workers with tasks like writing, coding, and problem-solving.
However, the growing use of these tools in the workplace raises concerns about the displacement of workers and the ethical implications of replacing human roles with machines.
As millions of people begin to turn to AI for personal and professional support, the relationship between these tools and job security becomes even more complex.
AI platforms like ChatGPT and Google's Gemini have experienced tremendous growth, especially in the United States, where millions of people are now actively using these tools.
ChatGPT alone has over 100 million active monthly users globally, with a significant portion based in the US.
The number of users in the US has skyrocketed, with the tool being used for a range of applications, including career coaching, resume assistance, and even mental health support.
In 2024, it was estimated that approximately 40 percent of Americans had used some form of AI, with tools like ChatGPT seeing particular growth among professionals looking to improve productivity or navigate job transitions.
The growing adoption of AI technologies is happening at a time when major tech companies, including Microsoft, Meta, and Google, are laying off thousands of employees.
Microsoft alone cut over 25,000 jobs across multiple sectors from 2023 to 2025, with many positions in roles now being automated or supplemented by AI tools.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
18 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
The NYC neighborhood where house prices are crash-proof
Nestled in the middle of New York City is a neighborhood filled with Tudor-style homes, lush gardens, and a private tennis club that was the home of the first US Open. Forest Hills in the borough of Queens feels like a tranquil suburb, yet has a view of the Manhattan skyline and is only nine miles outside of Midtown. The neighborhood, where homes with mullioned windows and gabled roofs easily fetch $2 to $4 million, covers about 2.5 square miles, and is home to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, home of two World's Fairs. At the heart of the area is Forest Hills Gardens, a private development built in the early 20th century and modeled directly on English garden cities. It's filled with pocket parks and old-fashioned lampposts. Forest Hills Gardens only has 800 houses, 11 apartment buildings, and a small number of churches, restaurants and storefronts. Nearly 121,000 people call Forest Hills home, including about 5,000 people who live in Forest Hills Gardens, according to a Data USA census report. 'They did a lot of things right in Forest Hills,' local realtor Bruce Eaton of the Corcoran Group told the Daily Mail about the high-demand area. 'They have green spaces, beautiful architecture, there's parks, and it's conveniently located close to Manhattan. Prices never drop because more people want to live here than there is inventory available.' Although the Forest Hills luxury market has slowed from its pandemic pace, prices remain high because there are so few homes for sale. The average sale price for a single-family home is currently $1.4 million, Eaton said. Across the borough of Queens as a whole, the average sale price for a home is $760,000, according to Redfin. Forest Hills is home to the 133-year-old West Side Tennis Club, a neighborhood institution that includes Forest Hills Stadium, an enormous outdoor swimming pool and a clubhouse for dining. The US Open was held there until it moved to Flushing Meadows in 1978. The 13,000-seat Forest Hills Stadium, a hotspot for shows, has had Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan and the Beatles play there. This summer, Mumford & Sons, The Black Keys, and Doechii will all play there. Residents in the neighborhood can often be spotted enjoying concerts for free on their own front lawns. There's a summer farmer's market at Forest Hills Greenmarket and boutique shops and restaurants on on Austin Street. Residents might also enjoy an old-fashioned egg cream at Eddie's Sweet Shop, which has a century-old soda fountain. The area is so unique, multiple films and TV shows have been filmed there, including The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and The Royal Tenenbaums. Director Wes Anderson used the tennis club for scenes, including the Windswept Fields meltdown of Richie Tenenbaum, played by Luke Wilson, during a match that destroyed his tennis career. In the origin story of Spider-Man, his alter-ego Peter Parker is famously from Forest Hills, where he lives with his Aunt May and Uncle Ben. Folk duo Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel of Simon & Garfunkel grew up in Forest Hills, three blocks away from each other and landed their first record deal while attending high school in the area. The public schools in Forest Hills are top-notch and public transportation is easily accessible with the subway, Long Island Railroad and multiple buses within walking distance. Forest Hills Gardens was first established in 1909 when Margaret Sage, founder of the non-profit Russell Sage Foundation, bought 142 acres of Forest Hills from a local development company. She then commissioned architects Grosvenor Atterbury and Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., the son of the famed Central Park designer, to plan and design the neighborhood, which they modeled directly on English garden cities of the early 20th century. The neighborhood is filled with antique wrought-iron street lamps and vintage blue street signs. 'There's basically almost no ground that hasn't been developed, so if you want to build here you have to buy something then tear it down and rebuild, and there's a limited supply,' Eaton told the Daily Mail. 'There's always more people wanting to live in Forest hills. People think they discover it every four or five years.'
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
EU to keep US trade countermeasures on hold until August, says von der Leyen
BRUSSELS, July 13 (Reuters) - The EU will extend its suspension of countermeasures to U.S. tariffs until early August as it aims for a negotiated solution on trade with the United States, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday. U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his global trade war on Saturday and threatened to impose a 30% tariff on imports from the European Union from Aug. 1, separate from sector-specific duties, despite months of intense talks. Announcing the extension of the halt on retaliatory measures, von der Leyen told reporters the bloc would "continue to prepare further countermeasures so we are fully prepared". A first package of countermeasures to U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium that would hit 21 billion euros ($24.6 billion) in U.S. goods was suspended in April for 90 days to allow time for negotiations. The suspension had been due to expire on Monday. A second package has been in the works since May and would target 72 billion euros of U.S. goods, but these measures have not yet been made public and the final list requires approval by member states. Von der Leyen added that use of the EU's Anti-Coercion Instrument was not yet on the table. "The (anti-coercion) instrument is created for extraordinary situations, we are not there yet," she said. The instrument allows the bloc to retaliate against third countries that put economic pressure on EU members to change their policies. Possible retaliatory steps could include restricting EU market access to goods and services, and other economic measures related to areas including foreign direct investment, financial markets and export controls. ($1 = 0.8555 euros)
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Frequent fliers reveal tips for getting upgrades that actually work, including checking in at the last second
Forget dressing smartly or trying to charm flight attendants. Those tactics for getting upgraded on flights are myths. Instead, heed the advice here from frequent fliers who reveal tips that actually work for securing upgraded air travel. Our experts are Gilbert Ott, Founder of travel site Zach Griff, senior reporter at The Points Guy; and JT Genter, Editor-In-Chief of the AwardWallet blog. Read on and you'll learn why checking in at the last second can yield a better seat — but only on certain airlines. And why booking premium economy is one of the best ways of getting bumped up to business class. Booking tips for a seat at the pointy end If you can afford to book a premium economy seat, you've also landed yourself a good chance of being bumped up to business class, says Gilbert. He tells The Independent: "It's the smallest cabin on the plane and the one the airline wants to 'upsell' economy passengers into the most. "They love to oversell this cabin with upgrades, effectively selling a seat on the plane twice to someone. And since it's such a small cabin, here you're most likely to receive a complimentary bump to business or first class." If budget airlines are more your price point, Zach recommends checking in at the very last second. He explains: "If you're flying on one of the ultra-low-cost budget airlines such as Spirit or Ryanair, I typically recommend checking in at the last second. "They often fill their planes back-to-front and reserve the most premium seats until the last minute to see if they can convince people to upgrade to them. "If they end up going unsold, it's possible they might assign them to the last people checking in." Does the same trick work for more expensive airlines? It can, says Zach, but he warns that "those carriers often fill their better seats with elite members". Stay loyal Enroling in an airline loyalty program and staying loyal significantly increases your chances of a better seat. JT explains: "The best way to get an upgrade to business or first class is to be loyal to that airline. "Generally, upgrades are going to go to a program's elite members." Zach agrees, telling The Independent that rewards also include the ability to "reserve extra-legroom seats at no cost or at a highly discounted rate". The downside? "You'll need to spend thousands of dollars a year flying with that airline," says JT. Volunteer to take a later flight if yours is oversold — and negotiate an upgrade Gilbert reveals that Delta has offered passengers as much as $10,000 each to transfer from an oversold flight to a later one. And if there's no cash offer, negotiate for an upgrade. He adds: "Airlines regularly oversell flights, so letting them know at check-in and at the gate that you'd be very willing to volunteer — and holding out for a decent offer — is a great tactic." Collect air miles Collecting air miles through credit-card spending is one of the classic tactics to snare a more luxurious seat. Gilbert recommends the Bilt Reward Card as it "allows people to earn points for paying rent, typically the largest monthly expense, and there's no annual fee, so it's an easy way to jump into the game". He adds: "Plus, the more transactions and spend, the better your rewards." Zach is a fan of cards that allow customers to earn flexible travel points "that aren't aligned with a specific airline or hotel chain". He explains: "This way, you can transfer points to a partner airline or hotel.' Zach says that American Express, Chase and Capital One all offer cards with this feature. JT's pro tip here is to avoid spending thousands on existing cards and instead continually sign up to new cards to take advantage of sign-up bonuses. He says: "These bonuses will earn you points much faster than through everyday spending alone. "Done right, this strategy can help you earn hundreds of thousands of points each year. In fact, my wife and I have earned more than seven million points and miles through sign-up bonuses alone. "Just be mindful of card issuer application restrictions and be strategic about your card applications." Avoid peak season The magic months for the cheapest business-class flights are early November and December, and mid-late January and February, says Gilbert. He reveals: "These are low periods for airlines and airlines are willing to sell relatively cheap tickets — think $2,000 for a business-class London-to-New York round trip — if you're willing to book far in advance and accept no flexibility for changes or cancellation.
