Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Sends Goodbye Message After Mass Layoffs

Meta has initiated a global layoff affecting approximately 8,000 employees, or 10% of its workforce, as part of a restructuring effort to prioritize artificial intelligence (AI) investments. CEO Mark Zuckerberg addressed employees in an internal memo, stating the company aims to operate more efficiently while redirecting resources toward AI infrastructure, including data centers, custom chips, and AI model training systems. The company plans to allocate between $125 billion and $145 billion this year to AI-related projects. Affected employees received notifications in phases across Asia, Europe, and the United States, with roles eliminated as part of the reorganization. Those impacted will enter a paid notice period, retaining salary and benefits until termination while losing immediate access to Meta systems. Severance packages in the U.S. include 16 weeks of base pay plus two additional weeks per year of service, along with 18 months of health insurance coverage and job placement assistance. Zuckerberg acknowledged the layoffs would cause anxiety but assured no further company-wide cuts were planned for 2026. He emphasized AI as the most consequential technology of their era, stating that leading companies would define the next generation. The aggressive AI spending has raised investor concerns about long-term profitability, while internal employee morale has reportedly declined due to workplace policies and uncertainty. Meta also addressed immigration sponsorships for affected workers, recognizing the challenges faced by those dependent on the company for visas. The restructuring aims to shift 7,000 employees into AI-focused roles while canceling 6,000 planned hires. Despite criticism and internal petitions, Zuckerberg framed the changes as necessary for Meta’s transformation and competitiveness in the global AI race.