Meta Lays Off 8,000 to Offset AI Investments

Meta has notified thousands of employees of their layoffs as the company seeks to offset its hefty artificial intelligence investments. An email from Meta management informed impacted staffers that the planned headcount reduction was part of the company's "continued effort to run the company more efficiently and to allow us to offset the other investments we're making."

Reports of the impending layoffs first surfaced in March, when the company was believed to be planning cuts of up to 20 percent of its total headcount. According to a memo shared in May, the layoffs will affect approximately 8,000 people, around 10 percent of Meta’s 78,000 employees.

The staff reductions follow Meta's January forecast for capital expenditures of $115 billion to $135 billion in 2026. The funds are slated to support the company's Meta Superintelligence Labs efforts and core business and represent almost double the $72.22 billion spent by the company in 2025.

Business Insider reports that Meta is moving more than 7,000 staffers to work on new AI initiatives. Bloomberg reports that 6,000 open roles are being closed.

The memo to affected employees closed on a note of appreciation from the company. "We want to say again that we’re grateful for your contributions. Your impact at Meta has been an important part of our story," it read.

Several of those impacted have taken to LinkedIn to share news of their departure, posting photos of their Meta employee badges and confirming that the cuts are now in progress. One former staffer wrote that she was let go alongside “8,000 metamates.” The Verge has reached out to Meta to confirm the precise number of employees affected.