Microsoft AI Director’s Emotional Response to Layoffs
In a recent development, Microsoft has laid off approximately 6,000 employees, accounting for around 3% of its global workforce. Among those affected was Gabriela de Queiroz, Director of AI within the Microsoft for Startups division. De Queiroz took to X (formerly Twitter) to share the “bittersweet news” and reflect on her experience.
“Bittersweet news to share: I was impacted by Microsoft’s latest round of layoffs,” she wrote. According to her LinkedIn profile, de Queiroz joined Microsoft in 2022 as a Principal Cloud Advocate and transitioned into the Director of AI role in 2023. In a follow-up post, she expressed sadness over the scale of the layoffs, noting, “So many talented people I’ve had the honour of working with [are] being let go. These are people who cared deeply, went above and beyond, and truly made a difference.”
De Queiroz detailed how the layoffs were executed, revealing, “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. That felt right to me.” Despite the sudden termination, de Queiroz conveyed an optimistic outlook. “I’m an optimist at heart. That hasn’t changed. My smile, my gratitude, my belief that each day is a gift—that’s all still here,” she said.
She concluded her post with a message of solidarity for others who lost their jobs: “To those also affected—you’re not alone. We are at least 6,000.” The layoffs come amid a wave of workforce reductions across the tech industry, as companies continue to restructure and reprioritise post-pandemic growth strategies. Microsoft has yet to release an official statement regarding the latest round of cuts.
