Laid-Off Workers Should Use AI To Manage Their Emotions, Says Xbox Exec (theverge.com) 39
An anonymous reader shares a report: The sweeping layoffs announced by Microsoft this week have been especially hard on its gaming studios, but one Xbox executive has a solution to "help reduce the emotional and cognitive load that comes with job loss": seek advice from AI chatbots.
In a now-deleted LinkedIn post captured by Aftermath, Xbox Game Studios' Matt Turnbull said that he would be "remiss in not trying to offer the best advice I can under the circumstances." The circumstances here being a slew of game cancellations, services being shuttered, studio closures, and job cuts across key Xbox divisions as Microsoft lays off as many as 9,100 employees across the company.
Turnbull acknowledged that people have some "strong feelings" about AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot, but suggested that anybody who's feeling "overwhelmed" could use them to get advice about creating resumes, career planning, and applying for new roles.
In a now-deleted LinkedIn post captured by Aftermath, Xbox Game Studios' Matt Turnbull said that he would be "remiss in not trying to offer the best advice I can under the circumstances." The circumstances here being a slew of game cancellations, services being shuttered, studio closures, and job cuts across key Xbox divisions as Microsoft lays off as many as 9,100 employees across the company.
Turnbull acknowledged that people have some "strong feelings" about AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot, but suggested that anybody who's feeling "overwhelmed" could use them to get advice about creating resumes, career planning, and applying for new roles.
Sounds like a solid plan (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Sounds like a solid plan (Score:4, Informative)
People Are Being Involuntarily Committed, Jailed After Spiraling Into "ChatGPT Psychosis" [futurism.com]
No shit. What AI developer PR machine came up with "Laid-Off Workers Should Use AI To Manage Their Emotions, Says Xbox Exec". Oh, Microsofts.
For f*ck sake, go talk to friends and family in the real world. And if you don't have any in the real world then go find some, not an AI.
This is like going to the fast food / snack food industry for advice on the food pyramid. Oh wait, we did that too.
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After all, you have some time on your hands now.
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That's a hell of a way to trim headcount: threaten to lay people off (or just go ahead and do it!) and then turn their brains to mush by using their weakened emotional state and gaslighting AI to finally push them over the edge.
Taking his own advice? (Score:4, Funny)
His LinkedIn post looks like it was written by ChatGPT, so everything checks out. Maybe "Matt Turnbull" doesn't exist and the AI bots really are taking over?
ChatGPT can provide insight on that :-) (Score:2)
His LinkedIn post looks like it was written by ChatGPT, so everything checks out. Maybe "Matt Turnbull" doesn't exist and the AI bots really are taking over?
I'm using ChatGPT to respond to you post ...
"How would you respond to the comment "His LinkedIn post looks like it was written by ChatGPT""
ChatGPT said:
Here are a few different ways you could respond, depending on your tone and intent:
Neutral/Professional:
“That’s possible—tools like ChatGPT are often used to help draft professional posts. What matters is whether the content is clear and meaningful.”
Supportive/Constructive:
“If it was, then he used it well! AI tool
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It would not be the first time. LinkedIn is full of fake profiles for various reasons.
Best advice is to use AI? (Score:2)
Considering that AI chatbots seem to have issues with the truth and holding difficult conversations (to put it politely), this advice may be worth less than what you paid for it.
Go see a counsellor or talk to a friend. You'll get another job and it will be a better one.
ChatGPT says ... it can’t replace human ther (Score:3)
"How would you respond to the advice "Laid-Off Workers Should Use AI To Manage Their Emotions"?"
That's a loaded piece of advice, and how you respond really depends on your tone, values, and how seriously (or skeptically) you're taking the idea. Here are a few thoughtful responses across a spectrum of reactions:
Analytical/Thoughtful:
“AI can offer tools for journaling, perspective-taking, or even cognitive behavioral
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Hope He Remembers (Score:5, Insightful)
I hope he remembers his advice when he gets let go.
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Humanity is not ready to give up on having rulers. Hell we can't even recognize we have them in America
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most people use their Canon to shoot, not fire, but I guess that's semantics.
Advice (Score:3)
get advice about creating resumes, career planning, and applying for new roles
Or advice on lock picking, disabling burglar alarms, hotwiring cars, phishing, and defrauding before visiting top executives to thank them for such great advice and generous severance pay for all those years of hard work and compensate for finding a good job in a shrinking job market.
Fantastic (Score:3, Interesting)
Re: Fantastic (Score:3)
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microsoft is always super helpful (Score:1)
[redacted] (Score:1)
I'm self-censoring every thought I have on this one so I don't end up on a(nother) list
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Was one of those thoughts "I think he should have an extra large marital AId shoved where the sun doesn't shine"?
Let them eat cake! (Score:2)
Classic ruling class rhetoric. Reminder that ML needs physics more than physics need ML and that "LLMs" are a red herring.
Cut out the middleman (Score:2)
Good advice, almost. Big, bloated corporate behemoths want to use AI to replace some of their own workers, but what they fail to realize is that advancing AI tools in the public domain enable smaller independent developers to produce higher-quality software on a much smaller budget. Why waste your time with an $80 title from an MS publisher (or a subscription to Xbox Live) when you can buy a $15-$20 indie title that looks like it came from ~2016 and might actually be fun to play?
In other words, the people
Ghoul exec (Score:3)
I can see pros as well as cons... (Score:2)
Can't you go to jail (Score:1)
Dear Mr Turnbull (Score:3)
Sounds like a plan (Score:2)
This is so sad, I almost feel bad making fun of my tribe getting laid off, even if they did work for a company I've despised for 20 years. If they were Adobe employees, though, I'd probably chuckle, they are the worst.
I asked Bender ... (Score:2)
Laid-Off Workers Should Use AI To Manage Their Emotions
Bender recommended hookers and Blackjack then fell asleep, drunk, and murmured, "Kill all humans." :-)
Probably all good advice, but one sounds like too much work.
AI level response (Score:2)
One word (Score:3)
Oh I hope nobody decides to Luigi this guy.
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Or just grow up. (Score:1)
Just stalk to someone, anyone. Talk it out with your dog, or maybe even a cat. Oh right, new generations don't socialize, in the real world.
AI is not the answer here, or anywhere really.
modern Woowoo (Score:2)
I'm a white supremist now thanks to Tay! (Score:2)
Tay correctly classified my Microsoft manager as a #### #### #### who wants nothing more than to ##### out of ####!