Meta Platforms is preparing to cut approximately 8,000 jobs—around 10% of its workforce—as the company accelerates record spending on artificial intelligence, according to an internal memo to staff.
The planned layoffs, expected to take effect next month, will also be accompanied by a hiring freeze on thousands of open roles that had previously been earmarked for recruitment. A company spokesperson confirmed the cuts but declined to provide further details.
The decision comes as Meta ramps up its investment in AI, committing an estimated $135 billion this year alone. That figure nearly matches what the company has spent on AI development over the past three years combined, highlighting a dramatic shift in priorities.
Chief executive Mark Zuckerberg had earlier signaled that workforce reductions were likely, pointing to the growing efficiency of AI-driven workflows.
“I think that 2026 is going to be the year that AI starts to dramatically change the way that we work,” Zuckerberg said.
He added that employees leveraging AI tools are now significantly more productive, with individuals capable of completing tasks that once required entire teams.
The latest move marks Meta’s largest round of layoffs since 2023 and follows two smaller job cuts earlier this year that affected roughly 2,000 employees. Despite a brief return to pre-layoff staffing levels after renewed hiring last year, the company has once again pivoted sharply toward cost restructuring.
Internally, the shift has not gone unnoticed. One employee described the company’s direction bluntly, saying, “This company has become obsessed with AI.”
The tech giant has also introduced new measures to support its AI ambitions, including tracking and logging employee interactions with work systems to train its models—a move that has raised concerns among staff, particularly in light of the job cuts.
Meta is not alone in its restructuring efforts. Across the tech sector, major firms are trimming workforces while increasing AI investment.
Amazon has laid off more than 30,000 employees, while Oracle has cut over 10,000 jobs. Smaller firms have also taken significant action, with Block Inc. reducing its workforce by nearly half and Snap Inc. cutting around 1,000 roles.
Meanwhile, Microsoft has offered voluntary buyouts to thousands of long-serving employees as it adjusts to the evolving landscape.
Industry-wide, executives are increasingly pointing to AI’s rapid advancement—and the heavy spending required to remain competitive—as a key driver behind workforce reductions, signaling a broader transformation in how technology companies operate and scale.
