Meta's Major Layoffs and Restructuring: A Shift Toward AI
Meta is preparing to implement a significant round of layoffs, starting on Wednesday. This move is part of a broader restructuring initiative tied to the company’s growing emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) workflows. The changes are expected to impact a substantial portion of the workforce and involve major organizational shifts aimed at enhancing AI-driven operations.
Why Is Meta Cutting Jobs Amid Its AI Push?
According to an internal memo obtained by Reuters, Meta’s Chief People Officer, Janelle Gale, informed employees that the company plans to lay off 10% of its global workforce this week. These layoffs are part of a larger strategy to restructure the organization and focus more on AI-related projects.
The restructuring will not only include job cuts but also involve transferring employees into new AI-focused initiatives. Gale mentioned that around 7,000 employees will be moved into projects related to AI workflows. Additionally, some managerial roles will be eliminated as the company moves toward flatter organizational structures with smaller teams.
Which Teams Will Be Impacted?
Several teams are expected to be affected by these changes. The restructuring is closely linked to Meta’s “AI for Work” strategy, and several AI-centered units will play a significant role in the process. Employees are being transferred to teams such as:
- Applied AI Engineering (AAI)
- Agent Transformation Accelerator (ATA) XFN
- Central Analytics
- Enterprise Solutions, which Meta said will be detailed later
These teams are central to the development of AI agents capable of performing tasks currently handled by human employees. Central Analytics, for instance, is expected to focus on productivity measurement and analytics related to AI agent development.
Why Is Meta Moving Toward Flatter Organizational Structures?
The restructuring efforts are focused on building AI agents that can handle tasks typically performed by humans. The shift to flatter structures is designed to enable faster decision-making and more efficient team operations. In her memo, Gale stated that many leaders have redesigned their organizations using "AI native design principles," allowing teams to operate with fewer layers of management.
Gale explained, "As org leaders worked on the changes, many of them incorporated AI native design principles into their new org structures. We're now at the stage where many orgs can operate with a flatter structure with smaller teams of pods/cohorts that can move faster and with more ownership."
How Many Employees Will Meta Lay Off in 2026?
The layoffs and transfers together are expected to affect roughly 20% of Meta’s workforce. Some employee transfers have already taken place, while others will be informed on Wednesday. Meta has also previously closed 6,000 open roles as part of the restructuring process.
According to filings, Meta had 77,986 employees at the end of March. The company’s decision to cut jobs and reorganize comes amid growing employee backlash.
Employee Backlash Grows Over Meta’s Job Cuts and AI Changes
The restructuring has reportedly led to dissatisfaction among employees. Workers have protested the changes through flyers at Meta offices and posts on the company’s internal platform, Workplace. More than 1,000 employees signed a petition criticizing the installation of mouse-tracking software that Meta is using to train AI models designed to replicate human interactions with computers.
Some employees have also raised concerns about privacy issues related to the tracking technology and the company’s silence regarding the layoffs after Reuters first reported the plans.
FAQs
When will Meta layoffs begin?
Meta’s layoffs are expected to begin on Wednesday.
How many employees will Meta lay off?
The company plans to cut around 10% of its workforce globally.
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