Meta Begins Laying Off 8,000 Employees Amid A.I. Transformation
Meta announced layoffs of 8,000 employees on May 20, 2026, as part of its shift to an AI-first strategy, with an additional 7,000 employees being reassigned to AI initiatives. The company plans to invest $125–145 billion this year, more than double its 2025 spending, while employee morale has declined amid concerns over AI-driven data tracking and leadership decisions.
Meta informed employees in April that 8,000 workers—10% of its workforce—would be laid off on May 20, 2026, as the company pivots to prioritize artificial intelligence. On May 18, Meta also announced it would reassign another 7,000 employees to AI-focused projects, with notifications sent to workers in Singapore, the U.S., Britain, and other regions early on May 22. The layoffs began at 4 a.m. local time in Singapore, with employees in other locations receiving notifications later in the day. Meta urged staff to work from home, as offices were expected to be largely empty. Some employees reportedly scavenged for free snacks and chargers ahead of the cuts, while others hung fliers protesting Meta’s AI data-tracking program. Meta’s transformation into an AI-driven company has faced internal resistance, with employees expressing anxiety over job security and leadership decisions. The company plans to spend between $125 billion and $145 billion this year, more than double its 2025 spending, with a focus on AI development. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has framed AI as central to Meta’s future, though employees have criticized the rushed transition. Hundreds of Meta employees gathered in New York for drinks on May 21, with one event titled ‘Never a dull moment,’ reflecting mixed emotions about the layoffs. Over 1,000 employees have signed a petition opposing Meta’s AI data-tracking initiative, and internal posts have criticized leadership. Software engineer Mack Ward urged colleagues to challenge the company’s AI direction, writing that ‘A.I. is a freight train, but the future is not a foregone conclusion.’ While executives like CTO Andrew Bosworth acknowledged employee anxieties, leadership has largely remained silent on broader concerns. The layoffs follow similar cuts at companies like Cisco, Microsoft, Block, and Coinbase, all shifting resources toward AI development. Meta’s workforce now stands at approximately 78,000 employees, with uncertainty lingering over future stability.
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