Huan Qiu Wang·2025-07-25 02:32Core Viewpoint - Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella publicly addressed large-scale layoffs since 2025, expressing personal impact and acknowledging the pressure of cost-cutting measures [1][3]. Group 1: Layoffs and Employee Impact - As of this week, Microsoft has laid off over 15,000 employees, approximately 6.6% of its total workforce of 228,000 as of June 2024 [3]. - Some Microsoft employees expressed disappointment over the contradiction between the company's proclaimed values and the mass layoffs [4]. Group 2: Financial Performance and Market Reaction - Investors have responded positively to Microsoft's cost control measures, with the stock price surpassing $500 for the first time on July 9, maintaining a market capitalization as the second largest globally, only behind Nvidia [3]. - Over the past 12 months, Microsoft's stock has increased by approximately 34%, driven by growth in Azure cloud services and surging demand for artificial intelligence [3]. Group 3: Strategic Direction and Future Plans - Nadella emphasized the need for the company to "reimagine its mission in the AI era," transitioning from a "software factory" to an "intelligent engine" [4]. - The cost-cutting measures are seen as a means to create space for future technological investments, with Microsoft accelerating the integration of generative AI across its product lines, including Windows, Office, and Azure [4].