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Time of India
19-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Microsoft layoffs: My husband worked 25 years, rarely took leave, but was laid off by algorithm, says wife in viral post
Microsoft has laid off about 6,000 employees, or roughly 3% of its global workforce, as part of its efforts to streamline operations and accelerate its artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives. The company confirmed the layoffs on Tuesday, May 13, describing them as a move to 'remove unnecessary layers of management' while investing in AI. Job cuts affect multiple teams globally This is Microsoft's second-largest job reduction in history. The layoffs span various departments, geographies, and levels. Software engineers accounted for a significant portion, with over 2,000 roles eliminated in Washington state alone, according to Bloomberg. The company said the restructuring aims to automate routine tasks and allow employees to focus on high-value work. Personal stories emerge from laid-off employees Among those affected was a Microsoft employee with 25 years of service. According to a post by his wife on Reddit, he was laid off after being 'randomly selected by a computer algorithm' just days before his 48th birthday. She wrote, 'My husband has worked for Microsoft for 25 years. He was just laid off, randomly selected by a computer algorithm. His last day is this Friday, his 48th birthday.' She added that he is autistic and has multiple sclerosis but rarely took sick leave, worked long hours, and mentored colleagues. 'Never missed a day of work. Rarely called in sick (and would then work from home). Worked 60+ hours a week. Took on-call shifts during Christmas and Thanksgiving so coworkers with children could be home. He never asked for raises or promotions — he just kept showing up and solving impossible problems.' The post continued, 'I don't need pity. I just need someone to know what this world does to the people who give it everything — quietly, consistently, and without ever asking for more.' Live Events AI director's departure also draws attention Gabriela de Queiroz , Director of Artificial Intelligence for Microsoft for Startups, also confirmed her exit following the layoffs. She wrote on X, 'I was impacted by Microsoft's latest round of layoffs. Am I sad? Absolutely. I'm heartbroken to see so many talented people I've had the honor of working with being let go. These are people who cared deeply, went above and beyond, and truly made a difference.' Though she was asked to stop work and set an out-of-office message, she continued attending meetings and wrapping up her tasks. 'I chose to stay a little longer—showing up for meetings, saying goodbye, wrapping up what I could. That felt right to me,' she added. Despite the irony of her role being cut during Microsoft's increased AI investment, de Queiroz remained optimistic. 'But if you know me, you know I always look at the bright side. I'm an optimist at heart. That hasn't changed. My smile, my gratitude, my belief that each day is a gift — that's all still here,' she wrote. Criticism over algorithmic layoffs and company approach The layoffs triggered criticism on social media, with some users questioning Microsoft's reliance on automated layoff tools. One user said, 'This is why no one should be loyal to an employer,' while another commented, 'It would be interesting to know how many of the people chosen by this algorithm are over forty and/or have expensive health problems.' A third added, 'I wouldn't expect anything different from a company like Microsoft.' Company says layoffs aim to boost AI readiness Microsoft explained that the layoffs support its transition toward greater AI integration across its products and services. In April, CEO Satya Nadella revealed that AI now writes up to 30% of code in certain projects. A vice president also urged teams to increase AI-generated code from 20-30% to 50%, shortly before more than a dozen engineers were let go. De Queiroz addressed others impacted, saying, 'To those also affected—you're not alone. We are at least 6,000.'
Mint
18-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
After ‘25 yrs' at Microsoft, employee sacked on his 48th birthday; wife pens emotional post
Tech giant Microsoft has confirmed the layoff of approximately three per cent of its workforce across various teams and geographies. In the wake of the announcement, affected employees and their families have taken to social media to express their distress. Among them, the wife of a long-serving Microsoft employee posted on LinkedIn, stating that her husband, who had been with the company for 25 years, was laid off after being 'randomly selected by a computer algorithm.' 'My husband has worked for Microsoft for 25 years. He was just laid off — randomly selected by a computer algorithm. His last day is this Friday — his 48th birthday,' she wrote. She further revealed that her husband is autistic and lives with multiple sclerosis. 'He's the most quietly loyal, brilliant person I've ever met. Never missed a day of work. Rarely called in sick (and would then work from home). Worked 60+ hours a week. Took on-call shifts during Christmas and Thanksgiving so coworkers with children could be home. He never asked for raises or promotions — he just kept showing up and solving impossible problems,' she added. According to the post, he has received awards for resolving multi-million-dollar technical issues and has mentored hundreds of colleagues, some of whom have risen to leadership positions. 'Even the CEOs knew his name. And yet he was let go — by a spreadsheet,' she said. 'He got his 25-year crystal a few months ago. Now he's being walked out. He would be so embarrassed if he knew I was writing this. He's proud of keeping a stiff upper lip and not making a fuss. But I couldn't let him leave without someone hearing the story,' she continued. 'I don't need pity. I just need someone to know what this world does to the people who give it everything — quietly, consistently, and without ever asking for more,' she concluded. Separately, Gabriela de Queiroz, Director of AI at Microsoft and also affected by the recent layoffs, reflected on her experience via LinkedIn. 'These days, no matter how hard you work, how much you advocate for your company, or how much results and visibility you bring — whether it's helping Microsoft become a trusted name among AI startups or driving initiatives to make it a better place to work for hundred of people — none of that makes you immune to restructuring,' she stated.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Microsoft's fired AI director to 6,000 laid off employees along with her: "These are people who…"
Microsoft layoffs 2025 hit 6,000 employees worldwide, including AI Director Gabriela de Queiroz. As the tech giant pushes deeper into artificial intelligence, industry experts question the decision. Find out why even AI leaders weren't safe from Microsoft's sudden cuts. Microsoft announced last week that it is laying off approximately 6,000 employees, nearly 3% of its global workforce—in what marks the company's second-largest job reduction in its history. Among those affected was Gabriela de Queiroz , Director of Artificial Intelligence for Microsoft for Startups , who shared the "bittersweet news" of her departure on social media. — gdequeiroz (@gdequeiroz) "I was impacted by Microsoft's latest round of layoffs. Am I sad? Absolutely. I'm heartbroken to see so many talented people I've had the honor of working with being let go. These are people who cared deeply, went above and beyond, and truly made a difference," de Queiroz wrote on X, formerly Twitter, alongside a picture of herself smiling. The layoffs come as Microsoft aggressively pushes into artificial intelligence, with CEO Satya Nadella revealing in April that AI now writes up to 30% of code in some Microsoft projects. Software engineers bore the brunt of the cuts, representing over 40% of the approximately 2,000 positions eliminated in Washington state alone, according to Bloomberg analysis. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now To those also affected—you're not alone, we're at least 6,000, says Microsoft's fired AI director Despite being asked to stop work immediately and set an out-of-office message, de Queiroz chose to stay longer. "I chose to stay a little longer—showing up for meetings, saying goodbye, wrapping up what I could. That felt right to me," she explained in her social media posts. The irony of laying off an AI director while the company invests heavily in AI technology wasn't lost on industry observers. One Microsoft vice president recently told his team to use AI chatbots to generate half their computer code, up from the current 20-30%, before more than a dozen engineers on his team were subsequently laid off. "But if you know me, you know I always look at the bright side. I'm an optimist at heart. That hasn't changed. My smile, my gratitude, my belief that each day is a gift—that's all still here," de Queiroz wrote, maintaining her positive outlook despite the circumstances. The cuts affect all levels, teams, and geographies as Microsoft streamlines operations and reduces management layers. "What's next? I don't know yet. It's too soon to say. But I trust that something good will come out of this," de Queiroz concluded, addressing fellow affected employees: "To those also affected—you're not alone. We are at least 6,000." AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
From Microsoft to Match, tech layoffs surge in May 2025: How much is AI to blame?
Less than six months into 2025, the tech industry is grappling with repeated rounds of job cuts. Over 50,000 techies have been laid off this year so far, according to A staggering 24,545 tech employees were victims of reductions across 26 companies in April alone, as per the independent layoffs tracker. In comparison, 2024 saw around 1,50,000 job cuts across 549 companies. In May 2025, big tech companies Amazon, Google, and Meta announced reductions in certain divisions while Microsoft announced its biggest round of job cuts since 2023, with over 6,000 employees being laid off across its businesses. AI has emerged as the common thread behind these layoffs, with two key driving factors: Companies are increasingly turning to AI and automation to boost efficiency, with some of them even pursuing an all-in, AI-first strategy. Meanwhile, the surging cost of building AI infrastructure is making other companies cut back on headcount in order to prioritise resources. This comes amid growing evidence that the knowledge and skills of human workers may not be as easy to replace with AI as initially anticipated. For instance, Swedish fintech firm Klarna has said that it is once again recruiting humans for customer service after its AI-first strategy of deploying customer-service agents led to lower quality results, according to a report by Bloomberg. 'It's so critical that you are clear to your customer that there will always be a human if you want,' Sebastian Siemiatkowski, founder and CEO of Klarna, was quoted as saying. In a recent IBM survey of 2,000 CEOs globally, the respondents said that only 25 per cent of AI initiatives have delivered expected returns over the last few years and just 16 per cent of AI projects have been scaled across the enterprise. With that said, here are the tech companies that have announced job cuts in May 2025 so far. Microsoft announced on Tuesday, May 13, that it is laying off around three per cent of its workforce which translates to at least 6,000 employees. The job cuts are reportedly set to affect all levels of the tech giant's business empire, including certain international offices of Microsoft-owned LinkedIn. The company's AI director Gabriela de Queiroz, was also among those who were asked to leave. 'We continue to implement organizational changes necessary to best position the company for success in a dynamic marketplace,' a Microsoft spokesperson was quoted as saying by The Verge. Amazon on Wednesday, May 14, cut about 100 jobs in its devices and services unit, the group overseeing development of such diverse products as the Kindle, Echo speakers, Alexa voice assistant and Zoox self-driving cars. 'As part of our ongoing work to make our teams and programs operate more efficiently, and to better align with our product roadmap, we've made the difficult decision to eliminate a small number of roles,' a company spokesperson was quoted as saying by Reuters. Google on Tuesday, May 6, cut about 200 jobs across its global business unit, which is responsible for sales and partnerships, according to a report by The Information. The company said that it was making a small number of changes across teams 'to drive greater collaboration and expand our ability to quickly and effectively serve our customers,' as per Reuters. On Monday, May 13, Chegg said it would lay off about 22 per cent of its workforce. This amounts to 248 employees that will be asked to leave the company as it looks to cut costs and streamline its operations. Chegg's decision comes as students increasingly turn to AI-powered tools such as ChatGPT over traditional edtech platforms. As part of the restructuring announced on Monday, Chegg also said it will shut its US and Canada offices by the end of the year, according to a report by Reuters. The cybersecurity company announced on Wednesday, May 7, that it is planning to cut about 500 roles or roughly fiv per cent of its workforce as part of its efforts to streamline operations and reduce costs. As of January this year, the Texas-based company reportedly had around 10,118 full-time employees. 'While we will continue to prudently hire, primarily in customer-facing and product engineering roles, we are reducing roles in some areas of the business,' Crowdstrike CEO George Kurtz was quoted as saying by Reuters. Match Group announced that it is laying off 13 per cent or 325 staffers in a bid to reduce costs, shore up margins, and streamline its organisational structure, according to a report by TechCrunch. The dating app giant had a total of 2,500 employees as of December 2024, according to its annual report. The Tinder and Hinge parent company is also not hiring for open roles anymore. The layoffs are aimed at helping Match operate as one company, not brands that are managed independently, Spencer Rascoff, the CEO of Match, was quoted as saying.
NDTV
14-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Even The AI Director Was Not Spared In Microsoft's Recent Layoffs, Tech Industry Concerned
Microsoft has announced significant layoffs, letting go of approximately 6,000 employees, which accounts for nearly 3% of its global workforce. This move is part of the company's efforts to realign its organisational structure as it aggressively pushes into artificial intelligence. Gabriela de Queiroz, Director of Artificial Intelligence for Microsoft for Startups, was among those affected and shared the "bittersweet" news of her departure on social media. According to Ms Queiroz, staff were asked to stop work immediately after being informed of the decision. She chose to stay on for a bit, attend meetings, and bid farewell to her colleagues, showing her commitment to her team and appreciation for her time at Microsoft. "Bittersweet news to share: I was impacted by Microsoft's latest round of layoffs. Am I sad? Absolutely. I'm heartbroken to see so many talented people I've had the honour of working with being let go. These are people who cared deeply, went above and beyond, and truly made a difference," she wrote along with a picture of herself smiling. See the tweet here: 💔 Bittersweet news to share: I was impacted by Microsoft's latest round of layoffs. — Gabriela de Queiroz (@gdequeiroz) May 13, 2025 Despite her disappointment, she remains optimistic and "is looking at the bright side." "I'm an optimist at heart. That hasn't changed. My smile, my gratitude, my belief that each day is a gift—that's all still here," she expressed. She ended her post with a note for others impacted by the layoffs. "What's next? I don't know yet. It's too soon to say. But I trust that something good will come out of this. To those also affected—you're not alone. We are at least 6,000. And to those who've reached out, thank you. Your kindness means everything right now," she concluded the post. Techies React Many users, including technology professionals, were left shocked and bewildered by her abrupt dismissal. Many expressed deep concern and disbelief, questioning the rationale behind such a decision at a time when AI is driving innovation and shaping the future of countless industries. Some labelled the move a "paradox", while others called the decision "illogical". One user wrote, "It's ok to say there isn't a bright side here bc this seems despicable to me: a company that has ballyhooed AI all over town and intruded into all our spaces with AI then director of AI. Makes no sense. None. Why use CoPilot when this happens? That's how to see it." Another commented, "I don't understand how "the director of AI" could be let go...? Like I get the big picture of: "AI could do that..." or "fewer people with AI could do that..." But of all roles "director of AI" seems like an odd one to let go of." A third joked, "Did the AI start directing itself?" Layoffs at Microsoft This recent layoff follows previous job cuts in 2023, where Microsoft reduced its workforce by 10,000 jobs, less than 5% of its total workforce. The company has cited the need for "organisational and workforce adjustments" to manage its business effectively. Microsoft said the layoffs are part of its efforts to stay competitive and agile as it rapidly integrates AI into its products and services. The company aims to automate routine tasks, freeing up employees to focus on higher-value work. Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella, mentioned that the company was exercising caution due to economic uncertainty and potential recession.
