Greater Noida (Staff Correspondent): Microsoft, which is moving rapidly towards AI, took a shocking decision – the company has laid off about 6,000 employees globally as part of its organizational restructuring. This cut also includes AI director Gabriela de Quiroz, whose departure has sparked discussion in the tech world. Gabriela de Quiroz, who sets the strategic direction of artificial intelligence at Microsoft, shared this news in her social media post, calling it “bittersweet”. She wrote, “Am I sad? Absolutely. The people I worked with were dedicated and inspiring. It is heartbreaking to see them all go together.” Gabriela said that immediately after receiving the information, the employees were instructed to stop working, but she took some time to bid farewell to her team. She expressed gratitude for the moments spent with her colleagues.
In an emotional post, he further wrote, “I am an optimist at heart. That hasn’t changed. My smile, my faith, and my hope are as strong as ever.” He also addressed other employees affected by the layoffs and said that they are not alone, “We are at least 6,000 people who are going through this change. But to those who have come forward to help, I am grateful. Your kindness is most precious at this time.”
Concern and criticism in the tech community
The tech industry is surprised and angry at the layoff of a senior woman playing a leadership role in a rapidly emerging field like AI. Many experts and users called the decision “illogical” and “contradictory”. One tech expert questioned, “When Microsoft claims to be at the forefront of AI, then what logic is the removal of the AI director based on?” Another user wrote sarcastically, “Is AI now operating itself?”
💔 Bittersweet news to share: I was impacted by Microsoft’s latest round of layoffs. pic.twitter.com/QPwYJvjQkC
— Gabriela de Queiroz (@gdequeiroz) May 13, 2025
Microsoft’s stance and strategy
Microsoft issued a statement saying that these layoffs are part of internal restructuring and adapting to the rapidly changing market. The company aims to automate routine tasks through AI so that employees can focus on high-value work. CEO Satya Nadella also said that this is a necessary step in view of economic uncertainty.
Is AI paying the price for leadership?
Gabriela de Quiroz’s departure has given rise to the question – is human leadership unsafe even in the age of AI? The removal of the AI director by an AI pioneer like Microsoft is also being considered a symbolic and strategic signal. While on the one hand the company is at the forefront of adopting AI, on the other hand, such decisions force one to think about how permanent the place of human capital is even in this era of technological advancement.
