Tencent-Linked Insiders Say 50% Layoff Rumor Is False

According to ChainCatcher, people familiar with Tencent said on November 12 that claims in chat screenshots that the company would lay off 50% of its staff were based on a serious misreading and were entirely false. They said the figure referred to reallocating resources for the AI era: one half of employees would focus on improving existing core businesses, while the other half would explore AI-native opportunities and new areas of growth. At a livestream marking Tencent’s 28th anniversary, management called for proactive organizational changes to adapt to the AI era, distinguishing the effort from earlier, more defensive cost-cutting measures. The stated focus this time is improving efficiency and encouraging new value creation, with a flatter, more agile middle-management structure.