Meta’s Stealth Cuts: Efficiency Drive Hits 100 Employees Amid AI Push
In a surprising move, tech giant Meta has quietly laid off around 100 employees this week. This latest round of job cuts is part of the company’s ongoing “efficiency” drive, which CEO Mark Zuckerberg has vowed to make a permanent feature of Meta’s operations.
The layoffs hit various departments, including Instagram, Facebook, and Reality Labs. The layoffs primarily affected software engineers, eliminating their roles, but also affected some monetization jobs. This marks at least the third time this year that Meta has made incremental job cuts.
The company gave most employees several weeks’ notice before eliminating or moving their roles. They could apply for other jobs within the company, but not everyone was successful. Some chose to take four months of severance pay instead.
A recent disciplinary action in Meta’s Los Angeles office resulted in the firing of about 20 employees for misusing company meal credits.
Meta’s workforce has been shrinking since the pandemic. The company slashed tens of thousands of jobs in 2022 and 2023. While there haven’t been mass layoffs in 2024, team restructuring has been constant, especially in the Reality Labs division.
A new focus on AI is reshaping Meta’s priorities. The AI and infrastructure teams are receiving more resources. The company is also reshuffling roles to align with its three-day in-office work policy, leading to job moves or cuts.
A Meta spokesperson said, “We’re making changes to match our resources with our long-term goals and location strategy. This means moving some teams and shifting some employees to new roles. When we have to cut a job, we try hard to find other spots for affected workers.”
However, not everyone got an advance warning. Some employees were shocked to get emails saying Friday would be their last day. “The treatment wasn’t consistent for everyone,” one insider revealed.
Many laid off had worked for the company for less than a year. Jane Manchu Wong, known for uncovering upcoming social media features, was among those affected. She had recently moved from the Threads team to Instagram.
Despite these gradual cuts, Meta employees are bracing for more. They expect additional layoffs either later this year or in early 2025. Although the company continues to hire, it is closely monitoring the increase in headcount. Performance reviews have also gotten tougher.
This efficiency drive is happening as Meta pushes hard in AI development. The company is redirecting resources to AI and infrastructure teams, signaling a shift in its strategic focus.
The layoffs also reflect Meta’s evolving work culture. With a three-day office requirement now in place, the company is rethinking where teams should be based. This “remapping” of roles has resulted in the relocation or elimination of some jobs.
These changes come as Meta navigates a complex tech landscape. The company is balancing its traditional social media business with new ventures in AI and virtual reality. This balance act is leading to tough choices about resource allocation and staffing.
For employees, the constant threat of restructuring is creating an uncertain work environment. While some see opportunities in Meta’s new directions, others worry about job security.
Industry watchers are closely monitoring these developments. Meta’s moves could signal broader trends in the tech sector, especially as AI becomes more central to many companies’ strategies.
As Meta continues its efficiency drive, the tech world is watching to see how it will balance innovation with cost-cutting. The company’s ability to navigate these challenges could shape its future in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
For now, Meta employees are adjusting to a new reality where change is constant and efficiency is paramount. As one insider put it, “It’s a different Meta now. We’re all learning to live with uncertainty.”