Tech giant Microsoft has confirmed plans to lay off about 9,000 employees, affecting 4% of its workforce. The company aims to increase agility by reducing manager positions and empowering employees to focus on meaningful work. The move comes as Microsoft continues to invest in artificial intelligence ventures, which could be costly due to resource-intensive data centers. Other major companies, including Walmart, Disney, and Citigroup, have also announced layoffs, possibly due to financial hardships from tariffs and global trade tensions.