All articles tagged with #internal memo
Meta is ending its plan to compel 7,000 engineers into an Applied AI training unit and will now defer to individual choice, offering preferential placement in other parts of the company due to staffing shortages. The reversal follows backlash to the program and a broader morale crisis highlighted by CTO Andrew Bosworth, and comes after May layoffs that reduced about 8,000 jobs.
Meta’s three-month-old Applied AI unit, now about 6,500 engineers and product managers, faces serious internal strain as workers describe being involuntarily drafted into the group to build AI training data, performing tasks like generating puzzles and coding problems. A livestream meltdown during an employee presentation highlighted the tensions, and more than 1,600 Meta staff reportedly signed a petition over monitoring clicks and keystrokes for AI training. CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged distress in an internal memo and emphasized Meta’s aim to retain top talent, but morale remains extremely low as leadership reshapes theAI effort.
Meta is updating its Model Capability Initiative to restrict its employee-tracking tool, adding stronger privacy protections, allowing some exemptions, and introducing a 30-minute pause to address staff concerns about AI training data.
Meta has cut 10% of its workforce today, but CEO Mark Zuckerberg says there will be no further company-wide layoffs this year, though targeted reductions in divisions like Reality Labs could occur. He emphasizes AI as a strategic focus while trying to balance staff stability with faster, less-bureaucratic teams and greater ownership.
LinkedIn is laying off employees across the Global Business Organization, marketing, engineering, and product teams while scaling back investments in marketing campaigns, vendor spend, customer events, and underutilized office space. The cuts, part of a broader shift to focus on high-impact priorities, will see Asia-Pacific staff notified separately and the Graz, Austria office closed. The moves come as Microsoft pursues cost-cutting efforts and the company reportedly offered buyouts to long-serving employees in related documents.
WeightWatchers CEO Sima Sistani sent an internal memo to employees to reassure them amid the company's plummeting stock following Oprah Winfrey's departure from the board, stating that the stock price will take care of itself. Despite the stock's decline, Sistani emphasized the company's healthy financial position and strong liquidity, pushing back against concerns over growth and liquidity. She vowed to prove the naysayers wrong and urged employees to stay focused on delivering for members, expressing confidence in the company's long-term success.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai warned employees to expect more job cuts this year as the company aims to invest in its big priorities, leading to layoffs and reorganizations across various departments. Pichai acknowledged the difficulty of the situation and stated that the layoffs are about simplifying execution and driving velocity in some areas. The company has already made some role eliminations and will continue to make specific resource allocation decisions throughout the year, potentially impacting more roles.