It’s a tough time for tech workers, and it doesn’t look set to improve anytime soon, with Microsoft the latest to make major layoffs. It will shed 10,000 jobs – about 5% of its workforce, costing over $1.7 billion in severance and reorganisation costs. It says the move is in response to “macroeconomic conditions and changing customer priorities” – that’s code for a course correction after hiring big during the pandemic when there was a surge in demand for online services. Boss Satya Nadella also says that “no one can defy gravity” with inflation putting a break on demand worldwide. It is also part of a shift towards artificial intelligence (AI), with Microsoft said to be considering adding to its $1.4 billion stake in OpenAI – the company behind ChatGPT that has struck fear in the hearts of exam moderators, musicians and journos.