A Reddit post has gone viral after claiming that a Microsoft employee was laid off due to the company’s increasing focus on artificial intelligence.
The post, shared by a user whose friend allegedly lost their job, has triggered widespread discussion about whether AI is genuinely displacing human workers.
According to the Redditor, the employee had worked at Microsoft for five years before receiving an unexpected calendar invite that led to a sudden layoff.
There were no prior warnings, and the entire team was informed that the company was moving to an “AI-first” work model.
As part of this transition, many traditional developer roles were reportedly eliminated and replaced by a smaller, AI-focused team.
“AI’s impact feels way more real now,” the user wrote, adding that the affected employee was shocked and upset, particularly after hearing that AI was meant to create jobs — not destroy them.
The post questioned whether similar trends were occurring elsewhere, and if any new roles were truly emerging to offset the losses.
The thread quickly drew hundreds of comments. Some users suggested that companies are using AI as a convenient excuse to cut costs.
“Your friend’s team probably survived the last round of layoffs, but now AI is the scapegoat,” one user remarked.
Others speculated that internal tools teams, often the first to be cut, are now being replaced by AI solutions as a cost-saving measure.
Critics argued that the layoffs reflect investor-driven decisions rather than genuine innovation.
“This isn’t about the future of work — it’s about being lean and cheap,” one commenter said. Still, others warned that the rise of AI in the workplace is becoming increasingly real.
One user noted hearing of similar layoffs in Google’s Android Auto team, allegedly for AI-related reasons.
Despite concerns, many agreed that AI is still not capable of replacing entire teams.
“If AI was ready, the layoffs would be more targeted,” one user commented, suggesting the move was more about restructuring than real automation.
While Microsoft has not confirmed any such layoffs officially, the post has ignited a broader conversation: Are tech companies embracing AI at the expense of their workforce, or is AI being used as a justification for deeper cuts?
As automation advances, the growing concern is not just about whether AI can do the job — but whether it benefits everyone equally.