Meta is preparing to implement significant layoffs, with plans to cut roughly 10% of its global workforce—amounting to nearly 8,000 employees—in an initial round of job reductions scheduled for May 20, according to sources cited by Reuters [1]. The company is also expected to conduct additional layoffs in the second half of the year, though specific details regarding the timing and scope of these future cuts remain unclear [1]. These actions are part of Meta's efforts to offset rising costs associated with artificial intelligence infrastructure and to streamline operations by utilizing AI-assisted workers [1].
CEO Mark Zuckerberg has invested billions of dollars in artificial intelligence as Meta pivots toward this technology, reorganizing teams within its Reality Labs division and moving engineers into a new Applied AI group focused on developing AI agents capable of writing code and performing complex tasks [1]. As of December 31, Meta employed nearly 79,000 people, according to its latest filing [1]. A 20% workforce reduction would represent Meta’s largest restructuring since 2022 and early 2023, when the company laid off 11,000 workers in November 2022 (about 13% of its workforce) and cut another 10,000 jobs months later [1].
Meta declined to comment on the latest layoff plans when contacted by FOX Business. Previously, a Meta spokesperson described earlier reports of potential cuts as "a speculative report about theoretical approaches" [1]. The company’s actions mirror broader industry trends, with other major firms like Amazon also announcing layoffs linked to AI developments. Amazon said in January it would cut around 16,000 jobs after previously announcing about 14,000 white-collar layoffs in October, bringing its total reductions to roughly 30,000 roles [1].
CONCLUSION
Meta's planned workforce reduction signals a significant restructuring as the company intensifies its focus on artificial intelligence. The scale of the layoffs and the ongoing uncertainty about further cuts underscore the transformative impact of AI on the tech sector's employment landscape.