Autodesk Inc. shares climbed more than 3% Thursday after the design software company said it will cut about 7% of its global workforce — roughly 1,000 jobs — to accelerate investment in artificial intelligence and cloud computing initiatives.
The layoffs, which Autodesk said will mostly affect customer-facing sales teams, mark the final phase of its sales and marketing optimization as the company shifts resources to strategic priorities including its cloud platform and AI-enhanced products. Earlier SoftBank Group Corp sold Nvidia, T-Mobile stakes to fund OpenAI commitment.
Autodesk, which had about 15,300 employees as of January 2025, plans to reinvest portions of the cost savings into its cloud and AI efforts, executives said. The restructuring is also expected to support long-term growth and improved operating margins.
Despite the workforce reduction, the company said it now expects billings, revenue, adjusted operating margins, earnings per share and free cash flow for its fiscal year to exceed previous guidance.
The stock market reacted positively to the announcement, with Autodesk shares rising ahead of Thursday’s opening bell and gaining ground during early trading.
The moves reflect broader industry trends as technology companies pivot to AI and cloud services while trimming areas seen as less central to future growth.
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