By Ebi Kesiena
Meta has laid off approximately 8,000 employees as part of a sweeping corporate restructuring designed to reposition the tech giant as an artificial intelligence-driven company.
The workforce reduction, which accounts for nearly 10 per cent of the company’s global staff strength, has affected workers across Asia, Europe and the United States. Employees reportedly received dismissal notices via email in the early hours of the day.
The latest cuts come as Meta intensifies its investment in artificial intelligence under the leadership of Mark Zuckerberg, who has repeatedly described A.I. as the defining technology of the future.
Beyond the layoffs, the company has reassigned nearly 7,000 workers to new A.I.-focused teams and projects, as a broader shift in Meta’s operational structure and long-term business strategy.
The transition has, however, sparked unease internally, with many employees reportedly worried about job security and the increasing deployment of artificial intelligence tools within the company’s operations and training systems.
Concerns have also emerged over internal data collection practices linked to A.I. development. Reports indicate that staff members circulated petitions across several offices, demanding greater transparency and stricter safeguards regarding how employee data is utilised.
Despite the downsizing, Meta is pressing ahead with massive spending plans tied to artificial intelligence. The company intends to invest more than $100 billion this year in A.I. infrastructure, research and product development as competition intensifies among global technology firms racing to dominate the sector.
Zuckerberg defended the restructuring, insisting that companies leading the A.I. revolution would shape the next generation of digital services and technological innovation. While acknowledging growing anxiety among workers, he maintained that the overhaul was necessary to keep Meta competitive in the evolving tech landscape.
Affected employees are expected to receive severance packages that include several months’ salary alongside additional compensation based on their years of service.
