Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO, has reportedly expressed sadness over the mass layoffs the company made earlier this year, but told staff it needs to reimagine its mission for a new era.
CNBC reported Nadella made the comments in a memo to staff. The news outlet explained Microsoft culled 15,000 jobs this year, with the latest round of 9,000 occurring earlier this month.
After the layoffs, CNBC reported the company’s stock closed above $500 for the first time on 9 July.
Nadella stated the layoff decisions “are among the most difficult we have to make”. He noted while the company is thriving, job cuts “affect people we’ve worked alongside, learned from and shared countless moments with, our colleagues, teammates and friends”.
Nadella called on employees to go through a process of “unlearning” and “learning” to meet customers’ changing needs. “We must reimagine our mission for a new era.”
“What does empowerment look like in the era of AI? It’s not just about building tools for specific roles or tasks. It’s about building tools that empower everyone to create their own tools. That’s the shift we are driving, from a software factory to an intelligence engine empowering every person and organisation to build whatever they need to achieve.”
Microsoft is making massive investments in AI. In April, it invested $1.5 billion in a minority stake in United Arab Emirates-based AI company G42, a deal giving Microsoft a seat on the board.
Source: Mobile World Live:
Image Credit: Microsoft
