Microsoft Lays Off 6,000 Employees Amid AI Push
- Microsoft laid off 6,000 employees, or 3% of its global workforce, on May 13, 2025.
- The layoffs are part of a restructuring move to reduce management layers and prioritize AI integration.
- A viral Reddit post revealed an employee was allegedly laid off by a computer algorithm on his 48th birthday.
In a major restructuring of its workforce, Microsoft on Tuesday (May 13) announced it was laying off around three percent of its worldwide workforce as part of an overarching plan to streamline operations and to double down on artificial intelligence (AI). The technology giant said the cuts were intended to eliminate 'unnecessary layers of management' and speed up integrating AI into its products and services.
But the move has caused backlash on social media sites, particularly after a viral Reddit thread from the spouse of a longtime Microsoft worker who was let go by what she says was a computer program.
"My husband has been at Microsoft for 25 years. He was just let go, randomly chosen by a computer program. His last day is this Friday, his 48th birthday", the user posted on r/TrueOffMyChest. She continued that her husband, who was autistic and had multiple sclerosis, never took a day off, worked 60+ hour weeks on a regular basis, and volunteered for holiday shifts to help cover other workers with families.
"He never asked for raises or promotions he just kept coming and solving the impossible problems", she posted, lamenting the coldness perceived from the process. She affirmed that her post was not asking for sympathy but observation of how committed employees are being let go without care.
The announcement prompted an outburst of criticism from users who decried Microsoft's approach to conducting layoffs, specifically the alleged employment of an algorithm in deciding who would be terminated. Numerous users wondered if age or costs associated with their health played a role in the decisions made by the algorithm.
"This is the reason one shouldn't be loyal to an employer," one user posted, with another asking, "How many of the individuals selected by this algorithm are over forty and/or have costly health issues"?
Also Read More: Using AI Too Much Can Weaken the Mind
Microsoft has justified the cuts, saying that the firm is trying to stay nimble and competitive while it incorporates AI-fueled automation. The firm stated the reorganization would enable workers to concentrate on 'higher-value' tasks, but provided scant insight into decision-making.
With Microsoft doubling down on AI, the price for people in automation is coming under greater examination.
