Microsoft has laid off approximately 6,000 employees in its latest round of job cuts, affecting several divisions across the company. Among those impacted is Gabriela de Queiroz, Director of AI at Microsoft and a well-known advocate for ethical and inclusive artificial intelligence.
De Queiroz shared her response on LinkedIn in a heartfelt and reflective post, confirming her departure. “ Bittersweet news to share: I was impacted by Microsoft’s latest round of layoffs,” she wrote, acknowledging the emotional toll of the restructuring.
Though layoffs have become common across the tech industry, de Queiroz expressed concern over the disconnect between employee contributions and corporate decisions. “These days, no matter how hard you work… none of that makes you immune to restructuring,” she said, citing her contributions to Microsoft’s AI and workplace culture efforts.
The layoff announcement included the immediate cessation of work for affected employees. However, de Queiroz noted that she chose to remain active for a short time to ensure a smooth transition. “We were asked to stop work immediately and set an out-of-office. But I chose to stay a little longer—showing up for meetings, saying goodbye, wrapping up what I could.”
Despite the circumstances, her post maintained an optimistic tone. “I’m an optimist at heart. That hasn’t changed,” she said, adding that she still believes “each day is a gift.”
Microsoft has not issued an official breakdown of the departments most affected in this round of layoffs, though reports suggest roles in AI, cloud, and operations have been impacted.
De Queiroz concluded her message with solidarity for fellow employees and gratitude for those who reached out. “To those also affected—you’re not alone. We are at least 6,000… Your kindness means everything right now.”
This round of layoffs continues a trend of workforce reductions in the tech sector amid shifting priorities and cost optimisations.
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