Meta planning sweeping layoffs as AI costs mount Meta is reportedly planning significant workforce reductions, with potential cuts affecting 20% or more of its employees, as the company seeks to manage rising costs tied to its artificial intelligence initiatives. According to three sources familiar with the matter, the layoffs are part of a broader strategy to offset the financial burden of AI infrastructure investments and prepare for operational efficiencies driven by AI-assisted workflows. No official date has been set for the cuts, and the final scope of the reductions remains under review. The decision follows recent internal discussions among Meta’s top executives, who have instructed senior leaders to begin planning for workforce adjustments. The sources, who requested anonymity due to non-disclosure agreements, described the plan as a strategic shift to align with the company’s focus on AI-driven efficiency. If the 20% figure is finalized, the layoffs would mark Meta’s most substantial workforce reduction since its restructuring efforts in late 2022 and early 2023, which aimed to streamline operations. At the time, the company employed nearly 79,000 workers, and prior layoffs had already trimmed its workforce by 11,000 in November 2022 and an additional 10,000 months later. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been a driving force behind Meta’s push into generative AI, emphasizing the need to compete in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. The company has offered lucrative compensation packages, including multi-million-dollar incentives over four years, to attract top AI researchers for its new superintelligence team. Meta’s investment in AI infrastructure includes a $600 billion plan to expand data centers by 2028, alongside acquisitions such as Moltbook, a social platform for AI agents, and a $2 billion purchase of Chinese AI startup Manus.#ai #meta #block #mark_zuckerberg #moltbook
