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● 02.11.23

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●● Microsoft in 2023: Rounds of Layoffs Every Month (Yes, Another One Just Before the Weekend!)

Posted in Microsoft at 10:33 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

Summary: Not much of “the news” mentioned this (unlike all that HI Hey/AI sponsored nonsense), but days ago Microsoft admitted another major round of layoffs

=> that HI Hey/AI sponsored nonsense

YESTERDAY we rushed to mention GitHub layoffs and resumed a series that began in 2021. Remember that GitHub and Xbox, like many other Microsoft operations, aren’t profitable. The longer they go on for, the more Microsoft loses. Size does not beget profit. It can multiply burden and increase the magnitude of losses.

=> GitHub layoffs | resumed a series that began in 2021

“Just under a week after Microsoft was blasting money on Bing vapourware (while laying off Bing staff!) we learn that there’s another round of layoffs…”

Rumours we saw back in January said that in July of this year there would be much bigger rounds of layoffs. What we certainly did not expect is 2 months, 2 rounds of layoffs. But that’s just what happened. Just under a week after Microsoft was blasting money on Bing vapourware (while laying off Bing staff!) we learn that there’s another round of layoffs in a core part of Microsoft, near the ‘homebase’:

●●●● Microsoft announces next round of layoffs in Washington

●●●● Microsoft announces another round of layoffs impacting Washington workers

●●●● Microsoft Is Even Cutting Cloud, AI Workers in Layoffs, Email Shows

Microsoft boosters/moles inside the media are going to downplay this (they always do, it is their role):

●●●● Microsoft continues with previously announced layoffs, as Seattle-area total nears 1,500 people

●●●● Microsoft Cuts Jobs in HoloLens, Surface, Xbox as Layoffs Continue

Not even they can totally ignore or refute the internal report/s (distress calls from staff). Just a day after Ian Fried’s puff pieces (calling Microsoft “cool” because of vapourware) we’re back to talking about Microsoft’s crisis, not all the mindless hype — the paid-for media extravaganza. To quote one Microsoft mole (Bass): “At the Xbox gaming unit, reductions came in marketing and the Xbox Gaming Ecosystem Group, one of the people said. Xbox Chief Phil Spencer emailed employees Thursday to let them know about the cuts without detailing what parts of his business were impacted. “I encourage everyone to take the time and space necessary to process these changes and support your colleagues,” Spencer wrote in the email, which was seen by Bloomberg.”

“Notice that this happened around the end of the week when journalists are walking away until Monday and Tuesday…”

There are even more strategic areas affected, without all the typical excuses and hand-waving. “They’re cutting into the XBOX marketing division,” Ryan said in IRC, but it seems like they still try to hide Azure layoffs, which have gone on for years. Azure is failing really badly!

Not only do these reports rely on leaked material; they aren’t deniable. Microsoft tried to hide this as it breaks their “HEY HI” media streak/news cycle.

Notice that this happened around the end of the week when journalists are walking away until Monday and Tuesday (some editors work only twice a week now, due to budget constraints).

“One might joke that maybe they passed a bribe to the media for “GPT” hype around the same time of the layoffs happening, if not to distract from the layoffs, then to lower the incentive to mention these.”

With Microsoft layoffs almost every month since this past October (never mind last summer’s waves), it’s going to be hard to keep track of which layoffs belong to which “wave”. It’s undeniable that Microsoft has difficulties; its main product, Windows, is rapidly losing market share.

=> Microsoft layoffs | rapidly losing market share

So far not much media coverage about this can be found. At least so far. Microsoft money at work? One might joke that maybe they passed a bribe to the media for “GPT” hype around the same time of the layoffs happening, if not to distract from the layoffs, then to lower the incentive to mention these. █

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