Microsoft's recent wave of layoffs has sparked controversy not only because of its size, but also because of the company's internal response. Many 9,000 employees in the Xbox Gaming division were let go in early July, but the suggestion from senior executives that layoff workers would use AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT to handle grief has raised eyebrows.
Matt Turnbull, senior producer at Xbox Game Studios Publishing, has published a LinkedIn post offering advice to colleagues and industry colleagues on how to navigate job openings. The post, which was later deleted, was widely distributed online after being shared by developer Brandon Sheffield on Bluesky and documented by multiple outlets.
“I know these types of tools produce strong emotions in people, but I repent for not trying to provide the best advice I can in the circumstances,” Turnbull writes. He explained that he was experimenting with generative AI platforms such as Microsoft Copilot to reduce the “emotional and cognitive load” associated with unemployment.
Turnbull provided a collection of AI prompts aimed at helping users manage both professional tasks and mental distress. These included rewriting resumes, creating outreach messages for former colleagues, and even suggestions for reconstructing feelings of fraud syndrome. “After being laid off, I'm struggling with fraud syndrome. Could you help me reframe this experience in a way that reminds me of what I'm good at?”
However, this post caused a quick backlash. Social media critics described the advice as “grossing” and “a completely separate from reality.” This is especially when many people viewed artificial intelligence as a factor that contributes to unemployment in the first place.
Criticism is exacerbated by a broader context. In addition to 10,000 roles being cut in 2023, Microsoft cut more than 6,000 jobs earlier this year. The latest round also came with the cancellation of several game projects under development. Executives cite the need to adapt to the “dynamic marketplace” as AI integration increases, often referred to as strategic priorities.
Using AI for emotional support is very controversial. Microsoft has promoted Copilot as an assistant for potential happiness, especially for Gen Z and Millennial users, but mental health experts have warned against placing generic chatbots as a treatment alternative.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Copilot lead Mustafa Suleyman have pitched the tool as a productivity booster and an increasingly personalized advisor. Suleyman recently argued that Copilot can “sense user comfortable boundaries, diagnose problems, and propose solutions.”
Despite these ambitions, experts continue to raise concerns about the risk that they are too heavily relying on emotionally unheard AI for data privacy, misinformation, and complex human issues.
Turnbull's original intention may have been to provide practical help in times of crisis. But for many, the suggestion to turn to Capirot for emotional clarity felt deaf, especially when coming from the company's executives behind the layoffs.
