Meta Layoffs Begin as Company Shifts Focus to AI
So, big news coming out of Meta today—another round of job cuts has officially begun. This time, it's not just about reducing costs; it's part of a bigger strategic shift. Meta is letting go of about 5% of its workforce, which translates to roughly 3,600 employees. These aren’t broad layoffs like before—this round is being labeled as "performance-based terminations."
The notifications started rolling out early this morning, hitting employees in the U.S. first, while other regions will be informed over the next few days. However, due to labor laws, workers in countries like Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands are exempt from this round. That said, employees across Asia, Africa, and other parts of Europe will be affected in the coming weeks.
Also Read:- Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Was a Bold Statement
- Philadelphia Eagles Soar to Super Bowl Glory with Dominant Win Over Chiefs
This move follows Mark Zuckerberg’s commitment to what he called the "Year of Efficiency" back in 2023, where Meta already cut thousands of jobs. Now, it looks like the company is doubling down, pushing harder to streamline its workforce and focus on what it sees as its future: artificial intelligence.
And that’s the key takeaway here—while some employees are being let go, Meta is aggressively hiring for roles related to AI and machine learning. Internal memos reveal that an expedited hiring process for machine learning engineers will run from February 11 to March 13. Zuckerberg himself has been clear about where he wants to take the company, focusing on AI, smart glasses, and the next evolution of social media.
Meta isn’t alone in this shift. Other tech giants, including Microsoft, have been making similar moves—cutting jobs in some areas while ramping up AI-related hiring. It’s a clear indication of where the tech industry is headed.
For those impacted, this is undoubtedly a tough day. Unlike previous layoffs, Meta isn’t planning to send out a company-wide update once the cuts are finalized, and affected employees will lose system access within an hour of being notified. While they’ll still receive their stock vesting and any eligible bonuses, the reality is that these cuts mark another major transition for the company.
As these layoffs unfold, the big question remains—how will this reshape not just Meta, but the entire tech job market? With AI taking center stage, we could be seeing a major shift in the kinds of jobs that will dominate Silicon Valley in the years to come.
Read More:
0 Comments