Matt Turnbull, executive producer at Xbox Game Studios Publishing, told the fired employees to seek help of AI chatbots.
In the aftermath of Microsoft confirmed latest round of mass layoffs, an Xbox executive has gone viral for his tone-deaf comments. Matt Turnbull, executive producer at Xbox Game Studios Publishing, advised those laid off to seek help from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots to manage their emotions.
Mr Turnbull took to LinkedIn to post a message where he provided the unsolicited and insensitive advice, instantly attracting backlash from the users. While Mr Turnbull deleted the post, screenshots of his write-up showed Mr Turnbull suggesting tools like ChatGPT and Copilot to "help reduce the emotional and cognitive load that comes with job loss".
"These are really challenging times, and if you're navigating a layoff or even quietly preparing for one, you're not alone and you don't have to go it alone," Mr Turnbull wrote.
He wrote that he was aware AI tools can cause "strong feelings in people" but wanted to try and offer the "best advice" under the circumstances.
"No AI tool is a replacement for your voice or your lived experience. But at a time when mental energy is scarce, these tools can help get you unstuck faster, calmer, and with more clarity."
The new Severance season is insanely good
— Ysqander (@Ysqander) July 4, 2025
Matt Turnbull, Executive Producer at Xbox Game Studios Publishing - after the Microsoft layoffs pic.twitter.com/MdCbrCQ28F
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