Meta layoffs: Viral claim says employees built AI tools just before layoffs began

Meta has laid off around 8,000 employees in its largest restructuring effort, with notifications sent to staff in the U.S., Europe, and Singapore. A viral post by a user named Julian claims the company organized an internal ‘AI week’ where employees were instructed to pause regular work and build AI prototypes. Julian’s wife, an employee, allegedly worked on an AI initiative before being laid off, sparking fears that workers may be contributing to systems that could replace their roles. The post, shared on X, describes how Meta temporarily halted daily operations to focus on AI experimentation, with some projects later receiving engineering and leadership support. While the company has not confirmed a direct link between the AI projects and layoffs, the timing has fueled speculation. Meta’s restructuring aims to create flatter, more agile teams, with divisions like engineering, product development, and operations affected. At the same time, Meta is accelerating its AI push, reassigning thousands of employees to AI-focused roles such as AI agents, recommendation engines, and large language models. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has framed AI as the company’s top long-term priority, with reports suggesting a $100 billion investment in AI infrastructure this year. The shift reflects Meta’s competition with rivals like Google in advancing AI capabilities. Internal communications reviewed by Bloomberg reveal Meta’s Head of People, Janelle Gale, emphasizing the need for smaller, more autonomous teams. Layoffs reportedly began arriving in early morning notifications, while the company redirects resources toward AI development. The dual moves—cutting jobs while expanding AI—have intensified concerns among employees about job security in an AI-driven future.