Microsoft is continuing its shift to AI for its MSN editorial team, laying off additional personnel months after its initial layoffs.
Several weeks ago, Microsoft laid off roughly 50 contractors working for the company’s MSN property. The contractors were involved in producing news, identifying trending stories and optimizing content. Microsoft decided to use AI instead. At the time, full-time, in-house employees were thought to be safe.
According to the latest report, however, it appears that safety was short-lived. GeekWire is reporting that “the company is now laying off an unspecified number of direct employees from MSN, including some senior leaders on the Microsoft News editorial team, according to people familiar with the situation.”
While the news does not bode well for MSN’s news staff, at least some believe its the beginning of the end for MSN as well. One editor who was previously replaced expressed to GeekWire that relying on an algorithm for the news would probably be the undoing of MSN.
