Microsoft is laying off 3 percent of its workforce, likely affecting thousands of staff, while investing billions in artificial intelligence.
The company's spending on AI has impacted profit margins, leading to the decision to reduce costs by cutting its headcount.
Analysts suggest Microsoft may need to annually reduce staff by at least 10,000 to offset higher depreciation levels due to continued high capital expenditures on AI.
The company's cloud margins have narrowed, prompting the need for staff cuts to better position itself in the market, particularly as it aims to expand data centers for AI computing.