Microsoft Offers 60,000 Staff Voluntary Exit as AI Spending Tops $50 Billion
Updated
Updated · Computerworld · Oct 27
Microsoft Offers 60,000 Staff Voluntary Exit as AI Spending Tops $50 Billion
3 articles · Updated · Computerworld · Oct 27
Summary
About 60,000 Microsoft employees — roughly 27% of the workforce — can take a voluntary exit offer, including staff on Copilot, AI experiences, Xbox, and Windows + Devices teams.
The program is part of Microsoft's push to fund heavy AI investment and reshape operations; CFO Amy Hood has said fiscal 2027 headcount will fall year over year.
Eligible employees in the U.S., Canada, India, and the U.K. have until early December to decide, with departures set for year-end; marketing, sales, security and some data-center staff are excluded.
Microsoft spent $41 billion on capital expenditures in the June quarter and guided to more than $50 billion for the September quarter, underscoring the pressure to reallocate spending.
The offer expands beyond April's U.S.-focused retirement program, which carried about $900 million in one-time costs, while analysts say customers should verify support coverage during the transition.