If Microsoft is shedding over 25% of its global workforce, what replaces them?

You've probably seen in the media recently about the mass buyout programme Microsoft has introduced to shed more than 25% of its workforce.

In the age of AI (now apparently known as SI), we'll see more layoffs like this, especially in the software engineering sector.

As a Software Engineer, I chose this role because I genuinely loved tech and was sold on this career path as the best, where we use our brains to solve and create complex software. This was the case for many years, and I loved it, but we've had a good run, and I've now learned to accept that.

AI has removed the fun problem-solving, teamwork, and dreamwork aspect from my work, as it does this at a far greater pace than I ever could.

But where does this 25% workforce go? They can't just step into another company in the same role without strong competition and rigorous interview processes, because, as we can now see across the industry, job markets in these roles are not what they were before AI.

Microsoft may come to learn, like many others, that we need people; we need that element and may come to regret their choice, and it may be too late.

Here's what's currently on my mind: What if AI replaces jobs across all industries and places a high percentage of the population in unemployment? What is it then creating? Products that people can't afford because they're unemployed? Software that can't be verified by humans and is full of bugs (or worse, AI slop)?