Microsoft: AI technology replaces journalists

Microsoft: AI technology replaces journalists

Seattle, June 1, 2020

Microsoft is laying off at least 50 contract journalists and replacing them with AI technology. The staff, including 27 authors from the British PA Media Group, are employed by Microsoft News and MSN, many of whom work in the SANE (Search, Ads, News, Edge) department.

A Microsoft spokesperson said the layoffs were not a result of the pandemic. One of the dismissed workers told the Seattle Times that their jobs „have been semi-automated for several months, but now they are moving forward at full speed. Former Microsoft employees told The Seattle Times that automated algorithms would take over their tasks, including curating news and other content.

PA Media and other news organizations have laid off employees and cut salaries as advertising revenues have declined in recent years, a situation that has worsened during the pandemic.