Microsoft Debunks Rumors of 2026 Mass Layoffs, Calls Report 'Inaccurate'

• Speculation spread online about Microsoft planning to lay off 11,000 to 22,000 employees in January 2026.
• The rumors, stemming from a TipRanks report, suggested cuts in Azure, Xbox, and global sales due to AI investments.
• Microsoft's Chief Communications Officer, Frank X. Shaw, publicly denied the report as "100 percent made up / speculative / wrong."
• The claims gained traction due to Microsoft's previous restructuring in July 2025, which involved around 9,000 job cuts.
• Despite past workforce changes, Microsoft's financial position remains robust, briefly exceeding $4 trillion market cap in July 2025.

Why It Matters: Microsoft denies widespread rumors of 2026 mass layoffs, calling reports 'completely inaccurate'.