Bad news for employees of THIS company as it fires 15000 workers, makes AI mandatory for…, not Google, Amazon, Ratan Tata's TCS, Narayana Murthy's Infosys
Microsoft layoffs: Microsoft has cut more than 15000 jobs across multiple divisions in several rounds of massive layoffs, and has asked the rest of its employees to invest in AI skilling. The Redmond-based tech giant has urged workers to 'invest in your own AI skilling', The Information reported, citing the company's internal communications.
As per the report, Microsoft eliminated over 15,000 jobs in at least four major rounds of layoffs in 2025, including cutting 9,000 positions in the latest round that focused on its Xbox gaming division and sales teams. Earlier, Microsoft had sacked 6,000 workers in May, followed by more workforce reductions in June. Why Microsoft made AI mandatory for employees?
Microsoft plans to replace its sales force, which was primarily targeted in the latest round of layoffs, with more technical 'solutions engineers' who can demonstrate AI tools directly to customers. In an internal memo sent a day before the latest Microsoft layoffs, the company's sales chief, Judson Althoff, who is reportedly on an 8-week sabbatical, outlined Microsoft's plans to become 'the Frontier AI Firm' and 'establish a Copilot on every device and across every role'.
According to a Business Insider report, Microsoft has made AI usage mandatory in the performance review of employees. Recently, Julia Liuson, president of Microsoft's Developer Division, directed managers that AI usage 'should be part of your holistic reflections on an individual's performance and impact', the report said.
'AI [usage) is no longer optional — it's core to every role and every level,' read an internal email sent by Liuson to managers.
As per the report, Microsoft is mulling to add formal formal AI usage metrics to performance reviews to force greater adoption of its Copilot AI services. Various teams are exploring specific AI usage benchmarks in next fiscal year's employee evaluations, sources said, according to the report. How Microsoft's AI push is threatening more jobs?
Microsoft is reportedly planning to invest a staggering $80 billion in 2025 to develop more AI infrastructure, aimed at expanding the company's AI capabilities and rolling out its Copilot AI assistants across various platforms and services.
However, this shift in priorities is threatening various roles within the company, especially in product development and engineering, which are being restructured or gradually phased out.
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