A recent wave of layoffs has hit Microsoft’s gaming division, leading to the loss of nearly 9,100 jobs and the cancellation of several game projects that were being developed.
However, the situation took an even more controversial turn when a senior Xbox producer suggested that impacted Microsoft employees should consider using ChatGPT for emotional support and career advice.
The recommendation, shared in an internal memo and later leaked online, was framed as a well-meaning tip. The idea was that laid-off employees could explore generative AI tools like ChatGPT to navigate the job market, process the change, and move forward.
Instead, the leaked memo ignited a storm of criticism across social media, specifically on platforms like LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).
“Imagine losing your job and being told to talk to a chatbot about it,” one user posted.
“Cold, robotic, and completely out of touch,” another responded.
The backlash proves the frustration among tech workers, not just with the layoffs themselves, but with what they see as corporate insensitivity and over-reliance on AI.
What’s even worse is this move comes after Microsoft announced a massive $80 billion investment in AI, a juxtaposition that many are calling out as ironic, if not outright dystopian.
How the Internet Clapped Back
Many argue that during a vulnerable and emotional time, what people need is human empathy, not automated advice from a chatbot.
This isn’t the first round of Microsoft layoffs in recent times, but the contrast between job cuts and AI investment has sharpened public scrutiny.
Microsoft is one of the biggest backers of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, and has been deeply integrating generative AI into nearly all of its products, from Windows to Office to Azure cloud services.
Still, critics say using AI as a band-aid for layoffs feels tone-deaf and dismissive of real human impact. Some have even called it a symptom of a larger trend in Silicon Valley: putting innovation and efficiency above people.
Microsoft has not released an official statement addressing the backlash, but the message has already gone viral, putting the company under the spotlight once again.
In the meantime, thousands of former Microsoft employees are facing an uncertain future, no doubt hoping for more than just career advice from a chatbot.
