logo
‘Microsoft was my endgame': Techie claims he was laid off while vacationing with wife, 2-year-old

‘Microsoft was my endgame': Techie claims he was laid off while vacationing with wife, 2-year-old

Hindustan Times2 days ago

A peaceful vacation on Myrtle Beach turned into a life-altering moment for a tech professional after he received a layoff email from Microsoft, where he worked until recently. The message came with the subject line: 'Business Critical Update: Please Prioritize.' Within four hours, he was unemployed.
'Microsoft was my endgame,' he wrote in a candid LinkedIn post that has since resonated with thousands. 'The sheer talent, impact, and brilliance of the people I worked alongside shaped who I am today. For that, I'm incredibly grateful.'
The former Microsoft employee, who was dining with his wife and 2-year-old daughter Millie when he received the email, described the moment as a turning point. While the layoff was abrupt, it also forced him to act on a long-standing dream: breaking into offensive security.
'For nearly a decade, I've admired the offensive security industry from the sidelines… But I realize now that waiting for change wasn't the answer—I had to make the change.'
Also read: Narayana Murthy's 18-month-old grandson earns ₹6.5 crore in Infosys dividends: Report
Despite lacking a traditional portfolio in the field—no CVEs, CTF wins, or bug bounties—he emphasised what he does bring to the table: nearly a decade of experience securing Windows and Azure and deep insight into secure software development.
'The world has forced my hand. And I'm ready.'
He's now committed to documenting his journey into the offensive security space, sharing insights from his Microsoft tenure and inviting others to follow or contribute.
'This isn't just my journey—it's all of ours,' he concluded.
Also read: Rishi Sunak reveals he proposed to Akshata Murty in Kannada as he married into a 'Bangalore family'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Denmark's biggest cities say goodbye to Microsoft, citing concerns over Donald Trump's policies
Denmark's biggest cities say goodbye to Microsoft, citing concerns over Donald Trump's policies

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Denmark's biggest cities say goodbye to Microsoft, citing concerns over Donald Trump's policies

Why are Danish cities moving away from Microsoft under Trump's presidency? How much were Copenhagen and Aarhus spending on Microsoft? Live Events Are European tech alternatives actually working out? Is Microsoft still deeply integrated in municipal systems? What does this move say about Europe's digital independence? FAQs: (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Copenhagen and Aarhus, Denmark's two largest cities, are officially cutting ties with Microsoft as their primary IT provider. The decision, announced in late May 2025, stems from a mix of political and financial concerns. Officials pointed to growing unease about relying on a U.S.-based tech giant while Donald Trump is in office, especially as global tensions rise. On top of that, the cities have seen a sharp increase in software costs. The move marks a significant shift in how European municipalities are rethinking digital sovereignty and long-term IT officials made it clear that the current geopolitical environment under President Donald Trump played a role in their decision. According to Henrik Appel Espersen, head of the city's audit committee, the risk of international relations breaking down could put local IT systems at risk. 'If we suddenly can't send emails or communicate internally because of a political fallout, that's a huge problem,' he told leaders fear that, under pressure, a company like Microsoft could be forced by the U.S. government to restrict access to its services abroad. This fear of disruption in public operations is now shaping procurement decisions across the rising cost of Microsoft services has raised eyebrows in both cities. According to Danish tech site Version2, total municipal spending on Microsoft software jumped from 313 million kroner in 2018 to 538 million kroner in 2023. That's a massive 72% increase in just five Aarhus, where the switch has already started, the savings are very real. Bo Fristed, who leads the digital services department in the city's culture and citizens' division, said moving to a German cloud provider slashed their IT budget—from 800,000 kroner to 225,000 kroner has already replaced Microsoft with a German-based cloud provider, though the transition hasn't been perfect. Fristed admitted that most of his department's staff see the new system as a downgrade in terms of user experience. Still, the significant savings made the switch Copenhagen, a similar shift is being planned. While no official vendor has been named yet, a European alternative to Microsoft is likely to take over in the coming Despite these changes, Microsoft is still embedded in many public systems. From Office programs to cloud storage and communication tools, the company's products have long been the backbone of local IT infrastructure. That's why this decision is both bold and challenging—it's not just a software swap, it's a full system recently, officials believed there were no real alternatives. That's starting to change as European cities push for more control over their digital tools and isn't just a local issue—it's part of a larger European movement toward digital sovereignty. The decision by Denmark's two largest cities sends a message: relying too heavily on U.S. tech companies may no longer be safe or Trump's administration takes a tougher stance on global tech policy, European cities and governments are re-evaluating their IT partnerships. What's happening in Copenhagen and Aarhus might be just the to rising costs and political risks under Trump's U.S. tech switched to a German cloud provider to reduce spending and risk.

OpenAI says significant number of recent ChatGPT misuses likely came from China
OpenAI says significant number of recent ChatGPT misuses likely came from China

Mint

timean hour ago

  • Mint

OpenAI says significant number of recent ChatGPT misuses likely came from China

OpenAI said it disrupted several attempts from users in China to leverage its artificial-intelligence models for cyber threats and covert influence operations, underscoring the security challenges AI poses as the technology becomes more powerful. The Microsoft-backed company on Thursday published its latest report on disrupting malicious uses of AI, saying its investigative teams continued to uncover and prevent such activities in the three months since Feb. 21. While misuse occurred in several countries, OpenAI said it believes a 'significant number" of violations came from China, noting that four of 10 sample cases included in its latest report likely had a Chinese origin. The Chinese embassy in Washington didn't respond to a request for comment. In one such case, the company said it banned ChatGPT accounts it claimed were using OpenAI's models to generate social media posts for a covert influence operation. The company said a user stated in a prompt that they worked for China's propaganda department, though it cautioned it didn't have independent proof to verify its claim. OpenAI's policies prohibit use of its popular AI chatbot and models to assist with fraud, scams or cyberattacks. The company regularly suspends ChatGPT accounts it says are in breach of its rules. The release of ChatGPT to the public in late 2022 ushered in a wave of investments from companies willing to bet on a technology that is changing the way people do research, learn and work, though its growing capabilities also raise concerns about their weaponization for fraud, influence operations and other illicit activities. OpenAI said in a letter to the U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy in March that AI needs common-sense rules to shield users and that it was committed to preventing authoritarian regimes from using its models to amass power, threaten or coerce other states, carry out covert influence operations or malicious cyber activity. News Corp, owner of Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal, has a content-licensing partnership with OpenAI. Write to Mauro Orru at

Infosys launches AI-powered features for fans at Roland-Garros 2025
Infosys launches AI-powered features for fans at Roland-Garros 2025

Business Standard

time2 hours ago

  • Business Standard

Infosys launches AI-powered features for fans at Roland-Garros 2025

IT major Infosys, in partnership with the French Tennis Federation (FFT), is introducing new features to provide personalised match analysis and creative content for fans at Roland-Garros 2025. The company said it is applying agentic artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI to create more interactive and tailored digital experiences for tennis fans. 'Sports has been witnessing a tech-fuelled transformation and at Infosys, we are excited to be leading the charge for tennis! Every year we create unique experiences for the Roland-Garros community on the back of our deep tech expertise. As enterprise AI reshapes industries globally, we are thrilled to deploy its power at the tournament,' said Sumit Virmani, global chief marketing officer, Infosys. One of the key features for 2025 is AI Commentary, a tool that delivers real-time match highlights and commentary customised to individual players and games. Built on large language models (LLMs) and agentic AI through multi-agent orchestration, it allows fans to follow point-by-point or game-level summaries for a more engaging and personalised viewing experience. AI stadium lets fans build custom 3D arenas The AI Stadium feature enables fans to create their own 3D virtual tennis environments. By using text-to-image technology and voice prompts, users can design stadiums with themes ranging from futuristic concepts to nature-inspired settings. Generative AI poster challenge Another addition for 2025 is the Generative AI Poster Challenge. Fans can use prompts related to French landmarks, art styles or tennis themes to generate short videos. At the Infosys Fanzone, an LED cube displays these AI-generated posters animated in real time. The challenge follows responsible AI principles and offers rewards such as Roland-Garros tickets and vouchers. Building on past innovations These new tools expand upon Infosys' previous AI developments, including Match Centre, AI Videos and AI-Assisted Journalism. The company stated that these innovations aim to enhance player analysis, fan engagement and the overall tournament experience.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store