Microsoft to Cut Hundreds of Jobs at Azure Cloud Unit
Microsoft is eliminating hundreds of positions at its Azure cloud division, which includes Azure for Operators and Mission Engineering. The reductions follow recent employment cuts at Activision Blizzard and Xbox earlier this year. Other tech businesses, including Amazon.com and Salesforce, have announced layoffs in 2024.
Business Insider broke the news on Monday, revealing that teams including Azure for Operators and Mission Engineering will be impacted by the layoffs.
According to the report, the Azure for Operators layoffs alone could result in as many as 1,500 job cuts. This comes after Microsoft cut 1,900 jobs from Activision Blizzard and Xbox in January of this year. Other tech behemoths, such as Amazon.com and Salesforce, have also announced layoffs, affecting several hundred people in 2024.
Microsoft's strong investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and strategic cooperation with ChatGPT developer OpenAI have resulted in tremendous growth for the Azure cloud platform. This collaboration has given Microsoft access to highly sought-after technology, boosting Azure's growth.
The affected teams, Azure for Operations and Mission Engineering, are part of Strategic Missions and Technologies, an organisation founded in 2021. According to Business Insider, this organisation focuses on quantum computing and space-related endeavours.
In a separate development, Microsoft has started a restructuring process within its mixed reality organisation. However, the business has stated that it would continue to market the HoloLens 2, an augmented reality device. A Microsoft official informed Reuters that, despite the restructure, the HoloLens 2 will remain part of the company's product lineup.
Interestingly, Business Insider claimed in 2022 that Microsoft had cancelled plans to create HoloLens 3. Microsoft's new announcement demonstrates their sustained commitment to the HoloLens 2 and its market position.
Microsoft is cutting hundreds of jobs at its Azure cloud unit, including Azure for Operators and Mission Engineering.
The layoffs come after previous job cuts at Activision Blizzard and Xbox earlier this year.
Other tech companies, such as Amazon.com and Salesforce, have also implemented layoffs in 2024.
Source: REUTERS