Fresh reports suggest Meta could be preparing for another sweeping round of layoffs as the company pours billions into artificial intelligence.
According to a new report from Reuters, Meta is considering workforce reductions that could impact 20 percent or more of its employees. If implemented, the cuts would mark one of the company’s largest restructurings since its earlier waves of layoffs in recent years.
The possible reductions come as Meta ramps up spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure, acquisitions, and hiring. The company had nearly 79,000 employees as of December 31, according to a recent corporate filing.
A spokesperson for Meta pushed back on the report, telling Reuters, “This is speculative reporting about theoretical approaches.”
Even so, the conversation around AI and job cuts is growing louder across the tech industry. Several companies say automation and AI-driven tools are reshaping how work gets done, leading executives to trim payrolls.
Recently, Block, Inc. also announced sweeping layoffs, saying artificial intelligence will handle more tasks that previously required human workers.
However, not everyone believes AI is the full story. Some analysts argue that companies may be pointing to AI as an easy explanation for broader restructuring plans. Even Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has suggested that some layoffs across the industry may be “AI-washing,” meaning executives blame artificial intelligence for job cuts tied to other factors like pandemic-era overhiring.
If Meta moves forward with layoffs of this scale, it would echo earlier reductions. In November 2022, the company eliminated 11,000 roles, followed by another 10,000 job cuts announced in March 2023 as it restructured operations and shifted priorities.
