Microsoft's Satya Nadella says job cuts have been 'weighing heavily' on him

Core Insights - Microsoft has laid off over 15,000 employees in 2025, reflecting broader trends in the tech industry where over 80,000 positions have been eliminated [1][4] - The company's stock price closed above $500 for the first time on July 9, following the announcement of layoffs [3] - CEO Satya Nadella emphasized the need to reimagine Microsoft's mission in the context of AI advancements, shifting from a software factory to an intelligence engine [7][8] Company Performance - As of June 2024, Microsoft employed 228,000 people, but has not provided updated figures post-layoffs [3] - The layoffs have caused discontent among employees, impacting loyalty and perceptions of the company's values [5] - Microsoft remains the world's most valuable public company after Nvidia, with strong positions in Windows, Office, and Azure cloud services [6] Industry Context - The layoffs at Microsoft are part of a larger trend in the tech industry, with significant job cuts reported across various companies [4] - Companies like Recruit Holdings are also reducing their workforce, indicating a shift influenced by developments in artificial intelligence [4] - The competitive landscape for AI talent is intensifying, with Microsoft actively recruiting from competitors like Google DeepMind [9]