Tencent to shift 50 percent of staff to AI

Tencent founder Pony Ma said he will shift 50 percent of staff to new AI work, Bloomberg reported on the 12th of November 2026. Bloomberg put the workforce at about 100,000 people.

Ma spoke at Tencent's yearly anniversary event, people at the event told Bloomberg. Tencent later denied rumours that it plans to cut half its jobs, Lianhe Zaobao reported.

The army and the navy

Ma compared Tencent's main businesses to an army and its new AI work to a navy, Bloomberg reported. Half of staff should use AI to run current businesses better, he said.

The other half should explore AI native businesses, meaning products built around AI from the start. Ma also asked for fewer middle managers, the people said.

Tencent denies layoffs

Tencent public relations director Zhang Jun called the 50 percent layoff claim completely untrue, Zaobao reported. He said the plan moves resources to fit the AI era.

The layoff rumour trended on Weibo, a Chinese social media site, on the 11th of November, Zaobao said.

Below we break down the headcount

Tencent reported 115,927 staff in June, up from 111,221 a year earlier, Bloomberg said. That is 4,706 more people, a rise of about 4.2 percent, by our arithmetic.

Half of 115,927 is about 57,964 people. Half of Bloomberg's round 100,000 is 50,000.

What is confirmed and what is not

Ma's words come from unnamed people at the event who spoke to Bloomberg. Tencent did not answer Bloomberg's request for comment.

Tencent reports third quarter results on the 18th of November, Bloomberg said.

Key facts

Pony Ma wants half of Tencent staff on AI native work, Bloomberg reported.

Tencent said the 50 percent layoff claim is untrue.

Tencent had 115,927 staff in June 2026.

Results are due on the 18th of November.