Guwahati, June 19 -- Microsoft Corporation is preparing to cut thousands of jobs, with a particular focus on its sales workforce, as part of ongoing efforts to reduce costs amid significant investments in artificial intelligence.

Sources familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the company plans to announce the layoffs early next month, after the close of its fiscal year.

While sales roles are expected to be most affected, the reductions may extend beyond that area, and the timing could still change.

This round of cuts follows a previous reduction in May, when approximately 6,000 employees, mainly from product development and engineering, were laid off. Sales and marketing teams were largely unaffected at the ...