Meta plans to cut approximately 8,000 jobs, or 10% of its workforce, starting May 20 as part of a broader restructuring aimed at bolstering its artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives. The company announced the job cuts in an internal memo on Thursday, according to multiple reports.
Key Takeaways
Meta plans to cut approximately 8,000 jobs, or 10% of its workforce, starting May 20 as part of a broader restructuring aimed at bolstering its artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives. The company will also leave around 6,000 open roles unfilled.
- Meta plans to cut 8,000 jobs globally, with layoffs beginning on May 20
- The company will not fill approximately 6,000 open roles
- Meta has already spent $135 billion on AI this year and plans to invest $140 billion in 2026
- Employees have expressed concerns about a new tracking tool that logs keystrokes and mouse clicks for training AI models
The layoffs come as Meta accelerates its investment in AI, with plans to spend $140 billion on AI projects in 2026. This represents a significant increase from previous years and underscores the company's strategic shift towards AI-driven technologies. According to a person familiar with the memo reported by BBC News, Meta has already spent $135bn (£100bn) on AI this year alone.
In addition to the job cuts, Meta will not fill approximately 6,000 open roles, further reducing its workforce. The company had previously laid off around 2,000 employees in smaller rounds of cuts earlier this year. Employees have been anticipating deeper job losses for weeks.
The job cuts are part of a broader trend in the tech sector, with companies like Microsoft and Amazon also announcing significant layoffs. Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg has emphasized the importance of AI in the company's future, stating that 2026 will be 'the year that AI dramatically changes the way we work.' However, employees have expressed concerns about the company's new tracking tool, known as the Model Capability Initiative (MCI), which logs keystrokes and mouse clicks to train AI models. One employee described the move as 'very dystopian,' according to BBC News.
Meta had earlier laid off about 1,500 workers this year in its Reality Labs division, shifting from a metaverse business model to a focus on Meta Superintelligence Labs. Additional layoffs occurred in March, affecting hundreds of workers across Facebook and other units as roles were shifted to AI.
Meta introduced its major AI model, 'Muse Spark,' earlier this month. The company told workers that a new employee tracking tool will capture data from their work computers to train AI agents. Meta stated in its third-quarter report for 2025 that it is at an exciting point where there is continued runway to improve core services and build new AI-powered experiences.
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