Meta mulls sweeping layoffs to bankroll its AI ambitions

Reuters reports Meta is planning sweeping layoffs that could reach 20% of its staff to offset costly AI infrastructure bets and push for efficiency through AI-assisted work, though no date or final size has been set. Meta employed about 79,000 people as of late 2022 and has already pursued large AI-focused investments, including billions in data-center expansion planned by 2028 and acquisitions such as Moltbook and Manus, as CEO Mark Zuckerberg doubles down on AI. The moves reflect a broader tech-industry trend of cutting jobs to fund AI initiatives, following similar actions at Amazon and Block, though Meta’s AI efforts—like the Avocado model after earlier Llama 4 setbacks—have faced delays and underwhelming performance.