Sunday, November 1, 2026 - 5 Minute AI News

Microsoft cuts headcount to fund AI data centers, AWS cloud capacity sells out through 2027, and OpenAI introduces token-based quotas for ChatGPT premium users.

1. Microsoft offers voluntary severance to 60,000 employees to fund AI — Microsoft is offering severance packages to roughly a quarter of its workforce while shielding AI-critical teams. The move reallocates capital to fund a $170 billion artificial intelligence infrastructure buildout.
2. AWS committed cloud capacity sold out through 2027 — Amazon reports its committed cloud capacity is effectively sold out for the next three years. The saturation indicates compute scarcity will remain a persistent bottleneck for enterprise AI deployment.
3. Salesforce acquires defense AI startup Rune for $375 million — Salesforce has purchased the AI logistics startup to bolster its Missionforce defense platform. The acquisition aims to make its enterprise platforms more attractive to military contractors.
4. Sebastian Thrun's AI startup Dulo secures $130 million — The AI engineering startup co-founded by Sebastian Thrun raised $130 million in early-stage capital. The funding demonstrates sustained venture capital interest in AI companies led by proven founders.
5. OpenAI shifts ChatGPT pricing to unified token quotas — Starting in December, OpenAI is introducing a token-based quota system for ChatGPT's premium tiers. The transition ties usage directly to compute costs, ending unlimited prompting for heavy users.

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