Microsoft Hiring Update: Microsoft is set to start hiring again after months of layoffs, but with a new approach.
CEO Satya Nadella said the company will not just increase headcount; it will follow an “AI-First” hiring strategy.
This means new hires will focus on roles related to artificial intelligence (AI) or positions where AI can enhance work efficiency.
AI-First Hiring Strategy
On the BG2 podcast with investor Brad Gerstner, Nadella explained that Microsoft is entering a new phase where AI will reshape team operations.
“We will grow our headcount. But I think it will grow much more effectively than it did before AI,” he said.
After cutting over 15,000 jobs in the past year, Microsoft now employs around 228,000 people.
The company had expanded rapidly during the pandemic, with headcount growing 22 percent in 2022 alone.
Nadella emphasized that future growth will be targeted, with AI improving productivity and efficiency across the organization.
This approach differentiates Microsoft from competitors like Amazon, which recently laid off 14,000 employees.
While many tech companies are reducing staff, Microsoft is planning a comeback focused on AI-driven roles and tools.
AI to Shape Microsoft’s Work Culture
Nadella said Microsoft’s work culture is now shifting toward full AI integration. “Right now, any plan, any implementation, starts with AI.
You research with AI, think with AI, share with your colleagues; everything starts there,” he explained.
He gave an example of a fiber-networking executive using AI agents to meet rising cloud infrastructure demands.
These agents automated several maintenance tasks, allowing smaller teams to achieve more using smart tools.
Comparing the AI revolution to the shift from faxes to email decades ago, Nadella said AI is becoming the new foundation of productivity.
“We’re at the same inflection point – just faster,” he noted.
