As part of a massive reorganization effort to speed up its transition to artificial intelligence (AI), Meta Platforms, according to several reports, began laying off about 8,000 workers on Wednesday.
The Facebook-parent business began issuing layoff warnings in stages, with the layoffs and role shifts anticipated to impact about 10% of its workforce worldwide.
According to sources, an internal paper that was part of the reorganization exercise revealed Meta’s intention to shift about 7,000 employees into new AI-related positions.
Meta‘s HR Head, Janelle Gale, said in a message to staff that several teams were being restructured around AI-native ideas in order to create flatter hierarchies and smaller groups that could operate more quickly and with more ownership.
“Many of the org leaders integrated AI native design concepts into their new org structures as they worked on the changes,” Gale stated.
According to reports, Meta also required its North American workers to work from home on the day the layoffs went into effect, which is what the business has done in the past when announcing job cuts.
The reorganization coincides with a large rise in Meta’s expenditure on artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Furthermore, the tech business has predicted that its capital expenditures for 2026 will range from $125 billion to $145 billion, with the majority going towards AI data centers, bespoke chips, and model training.
The data gathered, according to reports, was only intended to enhance AI systems and not for surveillance, CEO Mark Zuckerberg allegedly informed employees.
Several reports earlier this month had indicated that Meta will start laying off about 10% of its global workforce starting Wednesday, while also growing its AI projects as part of a wider restructuring effort to improve efficiency.