Xbox Producer Suggests Those Hit by Lay-Offs Should Use AI for Career Planning, Emotional Clarity

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Despite numerous professionals in the gaming sector expressing sympathy and motivation towards colleagues impacted by Microsoft’s project cancellations and layoffs, Matt Turnbull, an executive producer at Xbox Game Studios Publishing, has faced some criticism. In a now-removed LinkedIn post, Turnbull advised those who lost their jobs to leverage large language models such as ChatGPT or Copilot for career guidance and emotional clarity.

As a devoted admirer, I’d like to share some insights I picked up from a post by Brandon Sheffield, the director at Necrosoft Games. In this post (which you can access via the archive below), Turnbull provided valuable guidance on crafting effective prompts when seeking career advice, networking assistance, outreach help, and even resume formatting tips – all of which are crucial for those who have experienced lay-offs.

In these tough times, you’re not alone if you’re dealing with a layoff or preparing for one silently. There are others going through the same experience, and you don’t have to face it alone. I understand these situations can stir strong emotions in people, but I feel it’s important to share helpful advice when possible. I’ve been trying out various methods to utilize AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot to minimize the emotional and mental strain that comes with job loss.

Among the ideas proposed by Turnbull, you might utilize an LLM (Large Language Model) in various ways such as seeking its advice as a career guide, inquiring about potential job transitions one could pursue, requesting it to redesign a resume to fit diverse sectors within the gaming industry, or even using it for emotional support.

I’m finding it tough dealing with feelings of inadequacy, as I’ve been let go recently. Could you possibly assist me in reinterpreting this situation to highlight my strengths and abilities?

In a subsequent post, Sheffield notes that Turnbull’s suggestion for those losing jobs to employ the same AI tools aimed at replacing workers seems somewhat out of touch, possibly explaining the backlash he received and his decision to remove the post.

Over time, I’ve come to understand that many people have difficulty considering a broader perspective and taking context and potential outcomes into account,” said the director of Necrosoft. “However, it might not be advisable to propose that those who lost their jobs at your company seek comfort in what you are aiming to replace them with.

This week, news broke out about potential layoffs affecting all Microsoft divisions, including Xbox. It’s been announced that studios like King, best known for creating Candy Crush, may let go of approximately 200 employees. Turn 10, the developer behind Forza Motorsport, is reported to be the most impacted studio, with nearly half of its workforce being reduced.

In a private memo, Microsoft Gaming’s CEO, Phil Spencer, explained that the job cuts are being made “to set up our Gaming division for long-term triumph and concentrate on key expansion zones.

Matt Turnbull, an Executive Producer at Xbox Game Studios Publishing, proposed on LinkedIn that those affected by the recent Microsoft layoffs might consider utilizing AI as a potential aid. He genuinely felt that sharing such advice could be beneficial.

— Brandon Sheffield (@brandon.insertcredit.com) 2025-07-04T03:48:10.841Z

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2025-07-04 17:41