Microsoft Offers Voluntary Buyouts to 60,000 Employees Amid AI Push

Microsoft has announced a voluntary exit programme for eligible employees in India, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, as the technology giant adapts its workforce to changing business priorities and rising artificial intelligence costs. The programme could cover around 60,000 employees, representing more than a quarter of its global workforce. Eligible staff have until early December to decide whether to accept the offer, with departures expected by the end of the year.

The programme applies to eligible employees at internal levels 70 and below in participating teams, including AI experiences, Copilot, finance, human resources, Xbox, and Windows and Devices. Marketing, commercial business and security teams are excluded. Compensation packages vary according to employees’ seniority, location and length of service, with offers potentially including several weeks of base pay, stock vesting, health insurance and career transition support.

Despite the workforce changes, Microsoft continues to invest heavily in artificial intelligence and India’s technology sector. The company has committed $20.5 billion in investment between 2025 and 2029 across cloud and AI infrastructure, skills development and operations in India. The latest voluntary exit programme follows job cuts in Microsoft’s gaming division in July 2026, highlighting the company’s ongoing efforts to restructure its operations while expanding its AI capabilities.

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