In the wake of Microsoft’s sweeping layoffs—affecting up to 9,100 employees, many of them from Xbox’s gaming divisions—a now-deleted LinkedIn post by Xbox Game Studios’ Matt Turnbull has sparked debate across the industry.
Turnbull’s post, captured by Aftermath before it was removed, suggested that affected workers could turn to AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot for emotional clarity, job application help, and career planning advice. “No AI tool is a replacement for your voice or your lived experience,” he wrote, “but… these tools can help get you unstuck faster, calmer, and with more clarity.”
The post listed AI prompts for resume rewrites, LinkedIn profile edits, career coaching simulations, and even emotional support around imposter syndrome. While Turnbull’s intent may have been to provide helpful resources during a period of uncertainty, the response from creatives has been largely critical.
Why the Backlash?
Turnbull’s recommendations came on the heels of massive game studio closures, project cancellations, and rising fears about AI’s role in creative industries—particularly gaming. Many interpreted the post as tone-deaf, especially given that Microsoft recently committed $80 billion to AI infrastructure, even as it shutters studios and lays off talent.
On Bluesky, reposts of Turnbull’s message were met with frustration and skepticism. Critics pointed out the irony of offering AI advice to displaced creatives, whose livelihoods often depend on the very kinds of work that generative AI tools may replace or commodify.
An Industry in Crisis—and Conflict
The incident highlights growing tension between tech’s AI ambitions and the human toll behind them. While AI tools can offer practical assistance during job transitions, their use—especially when suggested by executives—can feel impersonal, or worse, opportunistic, when jobs are on the line.
Whether Turnbull deleted the post due to backlash or corporate pressure remains unclear. But the moment has reignited conversations about corporate responsibility, the ethics of automation, and what real support for laid-off employees should look like in the age of AI.
