NewsABC7 News San Francisco (KGO-TV)October 26, 2026San Francisco County
Microsoft offers voluntary buyouts to 60,000 employees amid heavy AI investments
Photo: ABC7 News San Francisco (KGO-TV)
Microsoft is offering voluntary exit packages to approximately 60,000 employees—representing about 27% of its global workforce—across Canada, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The company announced the move on Monday as it increases spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centers.
Read the full story at ABC7 News San Francisco (KGO-TV)Why It Matters
Tens of thousands of technology workers face potential voluntary departure decisions while the company shifts its financial resources toward data centers and artificial intelligence equipment.
Key Facts
- Microsoft offered voluntary buyouts to 60,000 employees, amounting to roughly 27% of its global workforce.
- The voluntary exit offer is available to eligible employees in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and India.
- Chief People Officer Amy Coleman announced the offer in a blog post on Monday.
- The company had approximately 223,000 full-time employees at the end of June.
- Microsoft's stock rose about 1% on Monday and its shares hit an all-time high this month.
- In July, Microsoft cut 4,800 jobs, or 2.1% of its global workforce, including cuts at its Xbox video game business.
- Investment in data centers to power artificial intelligence is expected to top $700 billion this year.
- Heavy AI investments have increased the costs of memory chips, computer processors, equipment, and electricity.
- Economists expect the AI spending boom to continue pushing up inflation through the end of the year.
Who's Mentioned
PersonAmy Coleman“Chief People Officer who wrote the blog post announcing the offer”locationUnited Kingdom“Country where eligible employees can access the buyout”OrganizationMico“Artificial intelligence character introduced in October 2025”locationUnited States“Country where eligible employees can access the buyout”OrganizationMicrosoft“Software giant offering voluntary buyouts”locationCanada“Country where eligible employees can access the buyout”locationIndia“Country where eligible employees can access the buyout”locationRedmond“City in Washington where Microsoft is based”locationWashington“State where Microsoft is headquartered”OrganizationXbox“Video game business that experienced job cuts”OrganizationCopilot“AI assistant integrated into Windows”