Microsoft is cutting dozens of MSN news production workers and replacing them with artificial intelligence

Microsoft won't renew the contracts for dozens of news production contractors working at MSN and plans to use artificial intelligence to replace them, several people close to the situation confirmed on Friday. The roughly 50 employees -- contracted through staffing agencies Aquent, IFG and MAQ Consulting -- were notified Wednesday that their services would no longer be needed beyond June 30. "Like all companies, we evaluate our business on a regular basis," a Microsoft spokesman said in a statement. "This can result in increased investment in some places and, from time to time, re-deployment in others. These decisions are not the result of the current pandemic."