POLISCOPE
Back to feed
NewsKRON4October 26, 2026San Francisco County

Microsoft offers voluntary buyouts to 60,000 employees amid heavy AI spending

Photo: KRON4

Microsoft is offering voluntary exit packages to approximately 60,000 employees globally as the company increases investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure. The buyout offer was made available to eligible workers in Canada, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The announcement precedes the company's quarterly financial results release.

Artificial IntelligenceEmploymentCorporate FinanceTechnology
Read the full story at KRON4

Why It Matters

Roughly 27% of Microsoft's global workforce is eligible for a voluntary departure option as the tech sector shifts capital toward artificial intelligence hardware and .

Key Facts

  • Microsoft offered voluntary buyouts to approximately 60,000 employees, representing about 27% of its global workforce.
  • The voluntary exit offer was extended to eligible employees in Canada, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
  • The announcement was made by Chief People Officer Amy Coleman in a blog post on Monday.
  • Microsoft had approximately 223,000 full-time employees at the end of June.
  • Shares of Microsoft Corp. hit an all-time high and rose about 1% on Monday.
  • In July, Microsoft previously cut 4,800 jobs, or about 2.1% of its global workforce, including workers at its Xbox video game business.
  • Investment in data centers to power artificial intelligence is expected to top $700 billion this year.
  • In 2024, Microsoft revealed a new class of AI-imbued personal computers featuring the Copilot AI assistant.
  • In October 2025, Microsoft introduced an AI character called Mico.

Who's Mentioned

PersonAmy Coleman“Chief People Officer at Microsoft who wrote the blog post”locationUnited Kingdom“Country where eligible employees could access the voluntary exit offer”OrganizationMico“Artificial intelligence character introduced by Microsoft”locationUnited States“Country where eligible employees could access the voluntary exit offer”OrganizationMicrosoft“Software giant offering voluntary buyouts”locationCanada“Country where eligible employees could access the voluntary exit offer”locationIndia“Country where eligible employees could access the voluntary exit offer”locationRedmond“Washington city where Microsoft Corp. is based”OrganizationXbox“Video game business division at Microsoft”OrganizationCopilot“Microsoft's AI assistant”