Microsoft Employees Protest AI Focus Amid Record Buyout Offers

A collective of current and former Microsoft personnel circulated an open letter accusing leadership of prioritizing artificial intelligence over the well-being of workers, customers, and environmental targets. The document highlights low morale, heavy workloads, and worries about displacement by automation as the company ramps up its technological investments.

The grievances surfaced as Microsoft launched its largest-ever voluntary exit offer, impacting approximately 60,000 staff members at level 70 and below across India, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Eligible workers have until December 9 to accept the package, which includes a minimum of eight weeks of base pay.

Signatories of the letter demanded greater worker involvement in artificial intelligence decisions, halting the linkage of AI usage to employee rewards, and renewed commitments to environmental goals. These complaints coincide with recent financial reports showing a 32 percent jump in quarterly profit to $36.6 billion, while many staff members reported receiving merit raises of less than one percent.