India, Jan. 9 -- Microsoft has issued a firm denial regarding reports that the company is preparing to lay off as many as 22,000 employees this month. Chief Communications Officer Frank Shaw addressed the claims directly on social media, dismissing the figures and the timeline as entirely fabricated.

The rumors gained momentum early this week following a report by the investment site TipRanks, which suggested Microsoft was considering cutting between 5% and 10% of its global workforce. The claims alleged that these reductions would primarily target middle management, global sales, and the Xbox gaming division to offset the massive capital expenditures required for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.

Responding to the speculatio...