Microsoft has offered voluntary buyouts to around 60,000 employees, or 27% of its global workforce, as the technology giant increases investment in artificial intelligence (AI).

The offer is available to eligible employees in Canada, India, the United Kingdom and the United States, Chief People Officer Amy Coleman said in a blog post on Monday.

Coleman described the Voluntary Exit Offer as a new initiative for the company, adding that Microsoft would continue helping employees develop new skills and explore other opportunities within the organisation.

Microsoft had around 223,000 full-time employees at the end of June. The company is scheduled to publish its quarterly financial results on Wednesday.

The latest offer follows a series of workforce reductions. In May, Microsoft planned buyouts for around 8,750 employees, representing 7% of its US workforce, according to two people familiar with the plan. In July, the company announced 4,800 job cuts, including a significant number of positions at its Xbox video game business.

The workforce changes come as major technology companies increase spending on AI infrastructure, particularly data centres. Global data centre investment is expected to exceed $700 billion this year, driving up demand and costs for memory chips, processors, other equipment and electricity.

Economists expect the spending boom to continue putting upward pressure on inflation through at least the end of the year.

Microsoft has been expanding its AI capabilities in recent years. In 2024, it introduced a new category of AI-powered personal computers designed to integrate its Copilot assistant into the Windows operating system.

In October 2025, the company also introduced Mico, a cartoon-like AI character designed to represent its Copilot virtual assistant.