Meta Cuts 8,000 Jobs, Reassigns 7,000 Workers to AI Push

Meta Platforms is laying off around 8,000 employees and reassigning another 7,000 workers to artificial intelligence-related projects as the company deepens its focus on AI development and infrastructure.

The move affects roughly 10% of Meta’s global workforce of approximately 78,000 employees, according to reports from international media outlets including The New York Times and Business Insider.

Layoff notices were reportedly sent out on Wednesday, May 20, through staggered email notifications across different regions. Employees in Singapore were among the first to receive notices at around 4 a.m. local time, followed by workers in the United Kingdom, the United States, and other countries based on their respective time zones.

The restructuring follows an earlier announcement made in April, when Meta informed employees about the upcoming workforce changes.

While thousands of jobs are being eliminated, the company is also repositioning about 7,000 employees into AI-focused roles as it accelerates investments in generative AI, machine learning systems, and advanced computing initiatives.

Meta has been aggressively expanding its artificial intelligence efforts in recent years, competing with major tech firms such as Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI in the race to develop next-generation AI products and services.

The company has integrated AI features across platforms including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, while also investing heavily in AI chips, data centers, and large language models.

The latest layoffs reflect a broader trend across the tech industry, where companies are reshaping workforces and reallocating resources toward AI-driven operations amid increasing competition in the sector.