Meta, led by Mark Zuckerberg, is reportedly planning large-scale layoffs that could affect around 20% of its workforce, or nearly 16,000 employees, as the company invests heavily in artificial intelligence infrastructure and prepares for efficiency gains from AI-assisted operations. Sources told Reuters that while plans have been communicated to senior leaders, no official date or final numbers have been confirmed. Meta spokesperson Andy Stone described the report as speculative.
If implemented, this would be the largest reduction in staff at Meta since its “year of efficiency” restructuring in late 2022 and early 2023. Previously, Meta cut 11,000 employees in November 2022 and another 10,000 four months later, representing 13% and roughly the same portion of its workforce at the time.
Zuckerberg has been aggressively pushing Meta into generative AI, offering high-value packages to attract top researchers and building a new superintelligence team. The company plans to invest $600 billion in data centres by 2028 and has recently acquired the AI-focused social platform Moltbook and a Chinese AI startup, Manus, with at least $2 billion earmarked for the deal.
The AI push follows challenges with Meta’s Llama 4 models, which faced criticism for providing misleading benchmark results. The planned new model, Avocado, has also experienced delays and underperformed relative to expectations.
Meta’s potential layoffs mirror a broader trend in the tech sector, where companies are reducing staff as AI systems enable greater productivity with smaller teams. In recent months, Amazon cut 16,000 jobs (around 10% of its workforce), and fintech firm Block reduced nearly half its staff, citing AI-driven efficiency as a key factor.
