Meta Lays Off 600 AI Employees to Streamline Operations Amid Restructuring

Meta is laying off approximately 600 employees in its artificial intelligence division as part of a strategic restructuring aimed at streamlining operations and improving efficiency. The job cuts affect several key teams including AI infrastructure, foundational research (FAIR), and product-related AI units, but the elite TBD Lab, founded by CEO Mark Zuckerberg and home to many top AI researchers, remains unaffected. Meta's Chief AI Officer, Alexandr Wang, emphasized that the restructuring will reduce bureaucracy, speed decision-making, and create smaller, more impactful teams. These layoffs follow a period of aggressive hiring and significant investments, including billions for AI data centers and a $14.3 billion investment in Scale AI, reflecting Meta's intent to optimize internal resources amid intense competition with OpenAI and Google. The move has sparked surprise and dissatisfaction among some laid-off employees, highlighting challenges in balancing rapid expansion with sustainable growth. Overall, Meta's restructuring seeks to better align its AI efforts with its long-term vision and accelerate innovation in a rapidly evolving sector.