Microsoft has announced it will cut about 4,800 jobs worldwide, roughly 2.1 per cent of its global workforce, with Australian staff among those expected to be affected. The move matters because it signals continued belt-tightening at one of the world's largest technology companies and highlights the shifting nature of work as automation and artificial intelligence reshape the industry.

Microsoft has six offices across Australia and employs around 3,000 people, some of whom are expected to be made redundant, according to ABC News. In a memo to staff, chief people officer Amy Coleman stressed that the eliminated roles were "not being replaced by AI", though she acknowledged that AI is changing how work gets done and that some everyday tasks can now be automated. She said the company would try, where possible, to move affected employees into new roles aligned with its highest priorities.