Workforce changes are accelerating across major tech firms as artificial intelligence reshapes operations. Meta plans to cut around 8,000 jobs, or about 10% of its workforce, starting May 20.
The move follows earlier layoffs this year, bringing total reductions to roughly 11,000 jobs in 2026. Reports link the cuts to rising spending on AI infrastructure and automation.
Meta has invested billions of dollars into artificial intelligence as it shifts focus toward AI-driven tools and systems.
The company is reorganizing teams and moving engineers into new groups that build AI agents capable of writing code and handling complex tasks. These tools allow fewer workers to complete projects that once required larger teams.
“We’re starting to see projects that used to require big teams now be accomplished by a single very talented person,” Mark Zuckerberg, on how AI tools are changing work inside Meta.
The planned cuts follow smaller layoffs earlier this year, including about 1,500 jobs in January and additional reductions in March and April. Meta employed nearly 79,000 people as of late 2025. The company has not confirmed the latest round of layoffs but declined to comment on reports.
Across the tech sector, layoffs have increased as companies invest heavily in AI. Data trackers show over 95,000 tech job cuts this year across more than 240 events.
Other firms, including Amazon, Oracle, and Qualcomm, have also reduced staff while expanding AI capabilities.
At the same time, companies continue to fund large-scale AI projects, including data centers and advanced models. Executives say these investments aim to improve efficiency and reduce costs across operations.
