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[–] 14 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Microsoft said Monday that it's offering buyouts to a wide swath of employees as it strives to balance a costly artificial intelligence infrastructure build-out with capital efficiency.

The software maker announced a new voluntary exit offer for certain workers in the U.S., Canada, India and the United Kingdom at its experience level of 70 or below.

Around 60,000 people are eligible, according to a person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named while discussing an internal matter. The effort affects about 27% of Microsoft's total workforce of 223,000 people.

Is it just me or does this read like it’s trying to put a positive spin on 60,000 people being forced out of their jobs?

Like, you think they’re just gonna let people stay employed? It’s basically take this money and fuck off, or we’ll just fire you later on anyway.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 day ago* (2 children)

    What’s an “experience level of 70 or below”?

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  • [–] 3 points 1 day ago*

    Every new windows release they do a 10 level crunch. You’re expected to grind back up to level cap before you start gearing. People who are still at level 70 or below are about 2 releases behind and either need to start running 5-mans or do the catch up quests to get back to cap.

    SpoilerI have no clue

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  • So they had 60k people fucking the dog and they’re not firing the executives responsible?

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  • [–] 6 points 1 day ago (2 children)

    AI leads to efficiency push

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  • [–] 1 point 10 hours ago (1 child)

    That was my first thought as well, until I read that they meant Microsoft's over-investment in AI led to the push. Much more believable.

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  • [–] 2 points 9 hours ago

    I had the same realization after posting, but left it as is cuz it's still not the AI driving the push for efficiency, it's the bullshit firings. AI is being used as a scapegoat - it's the malicious management that's culpable.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 day ago

    efficiency push

    Read: we ran out of money so everyone needs to get "more efficient" (blood from a stone in dot-com land) so we're gonna try and kick out 25% into the absolute worst-ever job market in 100 years.

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