Microsoft offers voluntary buyouts to 60,000 employees globally

Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to approximately 60,000 employees across the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and India, The Verge AI reported. The widespread buyout offer marks the clearest indication yet that artificial intelligence automation is altering the overall size of the company workforce. [1]

The new scheme represents the first time Microsoft has presented a buyout offer to such a large number of workers, according to The Verge AI. The move significantly expands a previous retirement offer that was limited to around 9,000 employees earlier this year. [1]

The technology giant maintains its consumer artificial intelligence operations under its Microsoft AI division. The research division is headquartered in Redmond, Washington, and operates offices across global centers including London, New York City, Beijing, Suzhou, Hyderabad, Zurich, and Mountain View. [2]

The workplace shifts follow broader corporate initiatives around artificial intelligence systems, as FTMQ SI reported earlier. Microsoft executive leadership previously called for increased safety oversight and international rule-making for artificial intelligence technology as its global deployment accelerates. [3]