Meta Platforms is cutting approximately 600 jobs in its artificial intelligence division, including roles within its Fundamental AI Research unit (FAIR) and broader AI product and infrastructure teams. The cuts come even as the company continues to hire for its newly formed “TBD Lab,” which remains unaffected by the layoffs.
According to a memo from Meta’s Chief AI Officer Alexandr Wang, the move is aimed at creating a leaner, more agile AI organisation. “By reducing the size of our team, fewer conversations will be required to make a decision, and each person will be more load-bearing and have more scope and impact,” he wrote. This restructuring aligns with Meta’s broader ambition to accelerate its journey toward “superintelligence” — AI systems that someday may rival or surpass human cognitive capabilities.
The timing of the layoffs is notable given Meta’s recent large-scale investments in AI infrastructure and talent recruitment. The company entered into a multibillion-dollar financing deal to support its data-centre expansion and AI ambitions, while also aggressively hiring top engineers and researchers from other leading tech firms. While Meta frames the job reductions as a shift in strategy rather than a pullback in AI commitment, the move highlights the internal challenges of scaling such high-stakes research and product development.
From a broader perspective, Meta’s decision reflects a common challenge in the tech industry: balancing rapid growth in AI with organisational efficiency, cost control, and clear strategic focus. As companies race to build the next generation of AI systems, the internal restructuring and reallocation of talent suggest that even major players are recalibrating how they build and deploy AI teams. Observers will be watching how effective Meta’s leaner structure will be in delivering on its ambitious AI goals.
