Microsoft offers a quarter of its global workforce voluntary buyouts as AI spending accelerates

Microsoft has initiated a voluntary buyout program for 60,000 employees, accounting for approximately 27% of its global workforce, as the company intensifies its investment in artificial intelligence. Chief People Officer Amy Coleman announced the voluntary exit offer through a blog post on Monday, stating it is available to eligible employees in Canada, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Coleman emphasized that the company's decision to offer this voluntary exit option is a new approach for them, with plans to learn from the experience. The company remains committed to helping affected employees focus on their core responsibilities, develop new skills, and, where appropriate, explore new opportunities within Microsoft.

Microsoft, headquartered in Redmond, Washington, expects to report its quarterly financial performance on Wednesday. The company currently employs around 223,000 full-time employees as of June. Shares of Microsoft reached an all-time high this month. In May, the company announced buyout plans for about 8,750 individuals, representing 7% of its U.S. workforce, according to two sources familiar with the plan but not authorized to disclose the information publicly.

In July, Microsoft announced it was cutting 4,800 jobs, approximately 2.1% of its global workforce, including a significant number of employees from its Xbox video game business. Michelle Chapman reported this news for The Associated Press.