Microsoft plans to lay off thousands, with massive AI investment and transformation pressures intensifying market concerns.

BlockBeats News, July 1, according to the New York Post, Microsoft is planning a new round of layoffs, cutting thousands of positions next week to reduce costs, while external concerns about its out-of-control AI-related spending are rising.

Sources say the layoff ratio will be less than 2.5% of the company's 220k employees, meaning fewer than 5,500 people will be affected, involving the sales and consulting departments, as well as the Xbox gaming business unit.

Against the backdrop of rapid AI development, Microsoft is simultaneously facing two pressures: on one hand, the market worries about its excessive investment in new technology, with the company committing to invest approximately $190 billion in new infrastructure over the next few years; on the other hand, some believe that AI "robots" may gradually replace traditional software tools.

Meanwhile, Microsoft's stock price plummeted 19% in June, marking its worst monthly performance since the early 2000s internet bubble.