Meta lays off thousands of employees to offset AI investments
Meta reportedly informed thousands of employees of their layoffs as the company attempted to offset its heavy investments in AI. In an email from Meta management shared by Business Insideraffected employees were informed that the planned workforce reduction was part of the company’s “ongoing efforts to run the business more efficiently and to allow us to offset other investments we are making.”
Reports of a coming wave of layoffs began circulating in March, although at that time it was believed that Meta would cut up to 20 percent of the company’s total workforce. According to a recent memo shared in May, the layoffs would now affect about 8,000 people, or about 10% of Meta’s 78,000 employees.
The layoffs follow Meta’s January forecast that the company would spend between $115 billion and $135 billion in capital expenditures in 2026, which would be used to “support our Meta Superintelligence Labs efforts and core businesses.” That’s almost double the $72.22 billion the company will spend in 2025 in comparison. In addition to removing active roles, Business Insider reports that Meta is moving more than 7,000 employees to work on new AI initiatives and that 6,000 open positions are being closed, according to Bloomberg.
“We want to reiterate that we are grateful for your contributions. Your impact at Meta has been an important part of our history,” Meta said in closing the note to terminated employees.
Some of those affected posted information about their layoffs on LinkedIn, showing their Meta employee badges and confirming that job cuts are now underway. A former employee mentions that she was fired alongside “8,000 metamates.” We have contacted Meta to confirm how many employees were affected.
