Microsoft offers voluntary exit packages to 60,000 staff as AI spending accelerates

Microsoft has provided voluntary exit packages to 60,000 employees, approximately 27% of its global workforce, as it intensifies its investment in artificial intelligence, according to a company blog post from Chief People Officer Amy Coleman. The offer was extended to eligible employees in Canada, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Coleman emphasized that this is a new initiative for Microsoft, and the company will learn from it while continuing to assist employees in focusing on their core responsibilities, acquiring new skills, and exploring potential opportunities within the organization. Microsoft's workforce stands at around 223,000 full-time employees as of June.

The company is set to release its quarterly financial results on Wednesday. Microsoft's stock reached an all-time high this month, with shares jumping about 1% on Monday. In May, Microsoft had planned to offer buyouts to approximately 8,750 individuals, or 7% of its U.S. workforce, based on information from two sources familiar with the plan, though neither could speak publicly about the matter.