Xbox producer suggests laid-off employees use AI to take care of feelings
An Xbox producer has confronted a backlash after suggesting laid-off workers ought to use synthetic intelligence to take care of feelings in a now deleted LinkedIn put up.
Matt Turnbull, an government producer at Xbox Recreation Studios Publishing, wrote the put up after Microsoft confirmed it will lay off as much as 9,000 staff, in a wave of job cuts this yr.
The put up, which was captured in a screenshot by tech information web site Aftermath, exhibits Mr Turnbull suggesting instruments like ChatGPT or Copilot to “assist cut back the emotional and cognitive load that comes with job loss.”
One X person referred to as it “plain disgusting” whereas one other stated it left them “speechless”. The BBC has contacted Microsoft, which owns Xbox, for remark.
Microsoft beforehand stated a number of of its divisions could be affected with out specifying which of them however reviews recommend that its Xbox video gaming unit will probably be hit.
Microsoft has set out plans to take a position closely in synthetic intelligence (AI), and is spending $80bn (£68.6bn) in large information centres to coach AI fashions.
Mr Turnbull acknowledged the issue of job cuts in his put up and stated “when you’re navigating a layoff and even quietly making ready for one, you are not alone and you do not have to go it alone”.
He wrote that he was conscious AI instruments could cause “robust emotions in folks” however wished to try to provide the “greatest recommendation” below the circumstances.
The Xbox producer stated he’d been “experimenting with methods to make use of LLM Al instruments” and prompt some prompts to enter into AI software program.
These included profession planning prompts, resume and LinkedIn assist, and inquiries to ask for recommendation on emotional readability and confidence.
“If this helps, be at liberty to share with others in your community,” he wrote.
The Microsoft cuts would equate to 4% of Microsoft’s 228,000-strong world workforce.
Some online game initiatives have reportedly been affected by the cuts.
