Microsoft Offers Buyouts to 60,000 Employees as AI Spending Surges

Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to about 60,000 employees, roughly one-quarter of its global workforce, as the company ramps up investment in artificial intelligence. The program, announced Monday, is available to eligible workers in Canada, India, the United Kingdom and the U.S. at the vice president level or below. Employees will be notified by email Monday, Chief People Officer Amy Coleman said in a memo. Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood said in a July earnings call that Microsoft expects to spend $175 billion on AI infrastructure, including data centers, in 2026 alone. The exit program is Microsoft's second voluntary buyout offer this year, following one planned for about 8,750 people in May. The company also cut 4,800 jobs, about 2% of its global workforce, in July, including many in its Xbox business. Microsoft had 223,000 employees globally at the end of June, down from 228,000 at the end of 2025, according to regulatory filings.