Microsoft, which employs around 23,000 people in India, has extended to the country a global voluntary exit programme covering approximately 60,000 employees.
People in India working in roles across Copilot, AI experiences, Windows and Devices, Xbox, finance and human resources, could be impacted by the move.
Announcing the Voluntary Exit Offer (VEO) on Monday (October 26), Microsoft said the scheme would be available to eligible employees at level 70 and below across participating teams in India, the US, the UK and Canada.
Level 70 is an internal hierarchical structuring within Microsoft, and could cover employees with vice-president titles.
While the company has not disclosed how many of its India-based employees would be eligible for the scheme, it hires Indians across software engineering, research and development, artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, sales, customer support and corporate functions.
“This is a time-limited, voluntary programme that gives those who are eligible the opportunity to leave Microsoft with financial support and career planning resources.
Some organisations are providing the Voluntary Exit Offer, and some are not.
Participation varies based on each business’s priorities, customer commitments and workforce needs,” Amy Coleman, Microsoft’s Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, said in a blog post.
The development comes amid increasing concerns over AI-led disruptions to employment, particularly in the technology sector, where companies are deploying AI tools to automate tasks traditionally performed by human workers.
Several major technology firms have announced workforce reductions, hiring slowdowns and organisational restructuring in recent months, with some explicitly citing productivity gains from AI.
While the technology is creating demand for new skills and specialised roles, its growing adoption has also raised questions about the future of conventional software development, customer support and other white-collar jobs.
Microsoft, however, has not explicitly attributed its latest voluntary exit programme to AI replacing human workers.