'What Harm Is Done If They Leave?' – Microsoft's Secret Document Reveals AI Retention Strategies

Microsoft has a new way to determine which employees it can't afford to lose and it's all about AI. An internal document viewed by Business Insider sheds light on how managers are working to keep top AI talent in the fold – and it involves some big questions and even bigger paychecks.

Here's what's going on.

AI Talent Gets Special Treatment

Microsoft managers can request retention bonuses for employees they see as irreplaceable. To do that, they fill out a form answering questions like, "What harm is done if the employee leaves Microsoft?"

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Sounds intense, right? But there's a twist. The document now includes a new section specifically about AI.

Managers are asked to explain whether the employee is a "critical AI talent" and how their departure could hurt the company's AI initiatives. It's clear that AI is Microsoft's top priority and they're not messing around when it comes to keeping the best and brightest.

Why the Focus on AI?

AI is the name of the game right now. Companies like Google, OpenAI and Meta are racing to dominate the space and the talent competition is fierce.

It's not just about snagging the brightest minds – it's about keeping them. Losing an engineer who knows the ins and outs of AI could mean setbacks worth millions.

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Microsoft seems to know this. According to BI, Microsoft's AI employees earn much more than their colleagues. Engineers in the AI group reportedly make 48% more than the average software engineer at the company. 

A Strategic Move

The updated retention form was prepared for a specific group inside Microsoft, though it's unclear if the same AI-focused questions are being used across the company.

A Microsoft spokesperson told BI that these forms aren't standardized. Different teams can tweak them based on what matters most to their work.

But the inclusion of AI in this document hints at a larger trend. The stakes in the AI talent wars are sky-high and Microsoft isn't about to lose its edge.

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The Bigger Picture

This move comes as AI reshapes the tech world. From generative AI tools to advanced models, the industry is evolving fast. And companies like Microsoft are betting big.

The takeaway? If you're an AI expert, you're in demand. If you're not, maybe it's time to improve your machine learning skills.

For now, Microsoft's strategy is simple: Keep the talent, no matter the cost. After all, in the race for AI dominance, every brain counts.

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