On July 2, 2025, Microsoft made the difficult decision to part ways with nearly 9,000 employees, primarily in its Xbox division. This wave of layoffs sparked numerous reactions, particularly due to a controversial message posted on LinkedIn by a company manager.
Using AI for job hunting: controversial advice on LinkedIn
Matt Turnbull, executive producer at Xbox Game Studios, proposed an unexpected approach, to say the least: using generative artificial intelligence to help laid-off employees find new work.
In a post he has since removed, he encouraged those affected to leverage AI tools to improve their employment prospects, triggering a backlash due to the perceived lack of sensitivity in his remarks.
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Matt Turnbull’s suggestions for optimizing job searches with AI
While his intention was to help, Matt Turnbull’s advice was perceived as tone-deaf, especially after laying off so many employees. What were his recommendations? He proposed several ideas, including:
- Job searching: Using AI to identify relevant opportunities based on professional experience and previous roles.
- Developing an action plan: Creating a structured 30-day search plan to guide the efforts of those laid off.
- Resume analysis: Using AI to optimize resume content to make them more attractive to recruiters.
- Writing LinkedIn posts: Generating impactful LinkedIn messages to highlight candidates’ skills and availability.
Artificial intelligence is often criticized for its ability to replace jobs. In this context, the advice to use AI to find work was poorly timed and felt out of place.
Already viewed negatively in the workplace, AI is often associated with the disappearance of thousands of jobs. This situation only worsens its image, especially in the context of layoffs that have no direct link to artificial intelligence… But this time, AI had nothing to do with it!
Source: BFMTV
