Laid-off workers should use AI to manage their emotions, says Xbox exec

Laid-off Xbox Game Studios producer Matt Turnbull stirred up debate by urging employees affected by Microsoft’s recent wave of 9,100 cuts to lean on AI chatbots like ChatGPT or Copilot for emotional support and job-hunt help. In a now-deleted LinkedIn post, he shared prompt ideas—from crafting tailored resumes and LinkedIn summaries to drafting outreach messages and reframing imposter syndrome—saying these tools can lighten the cognitive load when “mental energy is scarce.”

Turnbull’s advice lands against Microsoft’s $80 billion AI push and a gaming industry already jittery about generative AI’s impact on creativity. While he framed it as practical self-care, many creatives bristled at the notion of using algorithms to process real human emotions, sparking a wider conversation about AI’s role in workplace well-being.