Microsoft Layoffs Shake Up HoloLens and Azure Teams
June 5, 2024, 9:31 pm
Location: United States, New York
Employees: 501-1000
Founded date: 2007
Total raised: $112M
Location: United States, California, Santa Monica
Employees: 5001-10000
Founded date: 1979
In a recent announcement, Microsoft revealed plans to lay off approximately 1,500 employees, with a significant impact on teams working on the development of mixed reality headsets like HoloLens and cloud services like Azure. The restructuring also extends to the Windows Mixed Reality project and the Strategic Missions and Technologies group, which focuses on cutting-edge technologies such as quantum computing and space exploration.
These layoffs come as part of Microsoft's ongoing efforts to streamline its operations and realign its workforce with its strategic priorities. The company's spokesperson emphasized that organizational and workforce adjustments are a necessary and regular part of managing a business, and reiterated Microsoft's commitment to investing in strategic growth areas to support its customers and partners.
This move follows previous rounds of layoffs, including the shedding of 1,900 jobs at Activision Blizzard and Xbox earlier this year. The tech industry as a whole has seen a wave of layoffs, with companies like Amazon and Salesforce also making significant workforce reductions in 2024.
Despite the layoffs, Microsoft's Azure cloud unit continues to experience strong growth, driven by the company's heavy investment in artificial intelligence and its access to advanced technologies through partnerships like the one with ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The Azure for Operations and Mission Engineering teams, part of the Strategic Missions and Technologies organization, play a crucial role in advancing Microsoft's capabilities in quantum computing and space-related projects.
In addition to the layoffs, Microsoft has initiated a restructuring of its mixed reality organization, but reassured that it will continue to sell its augmented reality headset, the HoloLens 2. The company's decision to scrap plans for the HoloLens 3, as reported in 2022, reflects its evolving strategy in the mixed reality space.
Overall, these organizational changes underscore Microsoft's ongoing efforts to adapt to market dynamics, optimize its operations, and focus on key growth areas. As the tech industry continues to evolve, Microsoft remains committed to innovation and delivering value to its customers and partners.
These layoffs come as part of Microsoft's ongoing efforts to streamline its operations and realign its workforce with its strategic priorities. The company's spokesperson emphasized that organizational and workforce adjustments are a necessary and regular part of managing a business, and reiterated Microsoft's commitment to investing in strategic growth areas to support its customers and partners.
This move follows previous rounds of layoffs, including the shedding of 1,900 jobs at Activision Blizzard and Xbox earlier this year. The tech industry as a whole has seen a wave of layoffs, with companies like Amazon and Salesforce also making significant workforce reductions in 2024.
Despite the layoffs, Microsoft's Azure cloud unit continues to experience strong growth, driven by the company's heavy investment in artificial intelligence and its access to advanced technologies through partnerships like the one with ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The Azure for Operations and Mission Engineering teams, part of the Strategic Missions and Technologies organization, play a crucial role in advancing Microsoft's capabilities in quantum computing and space-related projects.
In addition to the layoffs, Microsoft has initiated a restructuring of its mixed reality organization, but reassured that it will continue to sell its augmented reality headset, the HoloLens 2. The company's decision to scrap plans for the HoloLens 3, as reported in 2022, reflects its evolving strategy in the mixed reality space.
Overall, these organizational changes underscore Microsoft's ongoing efforts to adapt to market dynamics, optimize its operations, and focus on key growth areas. As the tech industry continues to evolve, Microsoft remains committed to innovation and delivering value to its customers and partners.