Zuckerberg acknowledges layoffs and internal reassignments amid Meta’s $73 billion AI investment push since 2021.
Meta has eliminated 22,600 jobs since last year as CEO Mark Zuckerberg prioritizes artificial intelligence development. The layoffs follow $73 billion in losses from its Reality Labs division since 2021, driven by heavy AI infrastructure spending.
The company reduced its workforce by 10% in May, canceling 6,000 open positions and reassigning 7,000 employees to AI-focused roles. Earlier cuts targeted Reality Labs, sales, and recruiting teams, with additional monitoring of employee activity to support AI agent development.
Zuckerberg admitted missteps in a leaked memo, citing rapid AI growth as a key factor in restructuring. The moves reflect Meta’s shift toward long-term AI investments despite near-term financial pressures.