“Talking to AI” after being fired: Shocking advice from Microsoft leaders

(Dan Tri) - Microsoft has just laid off 9,000 more employees, but the advice to "talk to AI" is what is causing a stir in public opinion, revealing a crisis of empathy in the AI ​​era.

The decision to cut some 9,000 jobs, which the software giant had just announced, was a shock, given that it was investing $80 billion in AI data centers. But that shock quickly turned into a storm of outrage when an executive from the powerful Xbox division suggested that those who had lost their jobs should turn to AI for comfort and healing.

This story is no longer just about corporate restructuring, but about the brutal disconnect between machine logic and human emotion, a perfect slice of the biggest paradox of the AI ​​era.

Good Advice and the Flame of Wrath

Matt Turnbull, an executive producer at Xbox Game Studios, probably didn't anticipate the consequences when he posted his confessions on LinkedIn.

The post, which has since been deleted but was quickly saved by the online community, began with sympathetic words: "These are very difficult times, but remember that you are not alone and you do not have to go through this alone."

Turnbull then shared his personal experience testing large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Microsoft’s own Copilot. He believes that, despite many people’s complicated feelings about AI – a technology that has been blamed for losing their jobs – it can still be a useful tool.

“No AI tool can replace your own voice and life experiences,” he writes. “But in times of mental exhaustion, these tools can help you get through the impasse faster and stay calm.”

He even offers a series of detailed suggestions, such as using AI to rewrite your CV, compose messages for recruiters, act as a virtual “career coach,” and even “restructure” feelings of self-doubt after the shock of being fired.

In theory, these are practical and useful tips. But in this particular context, it comes across as “insensitive,” “cold,” and “inconsiderate,” as countless comments on social media X put it. The problem is not the use of AI, but the context and timing.

Brandon Sheffield, a user on the social network BlueSky, hit the nail on the head: “I realize that people have trouble seeing the big picture. But if your company just laid off thousands of people, it’s best not to tell them to turn to the same tool you’re using to replace them as a way to relieve stress.”

Turnbull’s advice, while well-intentioned, taps into a deep fear among workers: the fear of being replaced, of being made redundant by emotionless algorithms. A recent survey found that 41% of workers fear losing their jobs to AI. His advice only adds fuel to that fire of insecurity.

After Microsoft's latest round of layoffs that left around 9,000 employees out of work, an Xbox executive made headlines when he suggested that those affected could seek support and career advice from AI tools (Illustration: Reuters).

Dissonance from the leadership

The situation became even more tense when an internal email from Phil Spencer, Director of Microsoft's Gaming division, was suddenly leaked. While thousands of employees were panicking about the risk of losing their jobs, Spencer's overly optimistic tone in the email made many people upset.

“It’s true that these changes come at a time when we have a large player base, a strong portfolio of titles, and record hours played,” Spencer wrote. “Our platform, hardware, and game development pipeline have never been stronger.”

The message, while perhaps true from a business perspective, strikes a sour note. It reflects the growing gap between management, focused on growth metrics and strategic performance, and the feelings and realities of marginalized employees. It’s a clear indication that empathy is becoming increasingly rare in the boardroom.

Microsoft calls the layoffs part of an “organizational restructuring” and “streamlining” aimed at “repositioning the company for long-term success.” But those technical terms ring hollow next to the job losses and uncertain futures facing hundreds of people.

A "pandemic" of the entire technology industry

Microsoft isn’t alone. The 9,000 layoffs are just the latest chapter in a massive shakeup happening across Silicon Valley, all in the name of AI and efficiency.

Facebook’s parent company, Meta, cut about 5% of its workforce at the beginning of the year. Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has also been making layoffs to focus on AI initiatives. Amazon has cut thousands of positions, especially in areas that are no longer strategic priorities.

The biggest paradox is that tech giants are pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into building an AI-driven future while simultaneously cutting the human resources that made their success possible. And then they encourage those who are laid off to adapt to AI. This cycle creates a sense of betrayal, of being left behind by the very wave of innovation they once were a part of.

A series of technology giants cut staff to focus on investing in AI (Illustration: TechSpot).

The Microsoft saga is a wake-up call. It shows that in the AI ​​arms race, leaders are at risk of losing sight of their most valuable asset: people and human connection.

AI can do amazing things. ChatGPT can help you write the perfect resume. Copilot can help you create a detailed project plan. But there’s one thing they can’t do: sense.

They cannot share someone else’s sadness, cannot put themselves in someone else’s shoes, cannot provide the genuine comfort that only a human can provide. In an age where everything can be automated, empathy – the ability to understand and share the feelings of others – has become a crucial and irreplaceable skill, at least for now.

The AI ​​revolution will continue to march forward. But the story of Matt Turnbull and 9,000 Microsoft employees is a valuable reminder: real progress is not measured by the processing power of chips or the intelligence of algorithms. It is also measured by how we treat each other during this tumultuous transition. And that is a lesson no great language model can teach.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/kinh-doanh/tam-su-voi-ai-sau-sa-thai-loi-khuyen-soc-tu-lanh-dao-microsoft-20250709220454268.htm