Meta Announces Major Job Cuts Amid Soaring AI Investment
Meta Platforms has revealed plans to lay off approximately 8,000 employees, which equates to nearly 10% of its workforce. This move is part of the tech giant’s ongoing, significant investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure. The layoffs, scheduled to commence on May 20, 2026, will also result in the closure of 6,000 open positions.
According to an internal memo from Chief People Officer Janelle Gale, the cuts are designed to “run the company more efficiently” and balance out other substantial investments. This development coincides with Meta’s projected capital expenditures of up to $135 billion in 2026, a considerable jump from $72.2 billion in 2025. The primary driver behind this increase is the AI infrastructure development for Meta Superintelligence Labs.
Meta’s announcement is the latest in a series of tech industry layoffs propelled by the rise of artificial intelligence. Other notable instances include:
- Amazon’s previously announced 16,000 job cuts
- Microsoft offering voluntary buyouts to approximately 7% of its U.S. workforce
In January, CEO Mark Zuckerberg hinted at these changes, declaring 2026 as “the year that AI starts to dramatically change the way that we work“.
Affected U.S. employees will be compensated with 16 weeks of base pay plus an additional two weeks for every year of employment. Following the announcement, Meta shares experienced a decline of over 2%.
Source: CNN