Microsoft Offers Voluntary Buyouts to About 60,000 Employees to Fund AI Spending

Microsoft said on Monday it is offering voluntary buyouts to about 60,000 employees, more than a quarter of its global workforce, as the company seeks to contain costs and fund its AI investments. Eligible staff include those in AI experiences, Copilot, finance, human resources, Xbox and Windows + Devices, a source told Reuters. Marketing, commercial business and security units are excluded. The program covers participating teams in Canada, India, the United Kingdom and the United States at level 70 and below. Microsoft had 223,000 full-time employees globally as of June 30, 2026, per its annual filing, and has forecast $175 billion in capital expenditures for the 2026 calendar year. It reports first-quarter results after markets close on Wednesday. Shares, up about 10% this year, rose about 1% on Monday. The company earlier offered buyouts to about 9,000 U.S. employees and in July cut 4,800 jobs.