Meta is preparing to cut roughly one in ten jobs as it attempts to rein in costs following years of heavy investment in artificial intelligence and virtual reality. The company, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has spent billions building out its AI capabilities and metaverse ambitions, but investors have grown increasingly concerned about the pace of spending and the lack of immediate returns.
The planned reductions are expected to affect multiple divisions, including teams linked to long term research projects. Senior executives have signalled a shift towards efficiency, with a renewed focus on core advertising revenue and near term AI products that can be monetised more quickly.
In an internal message, leadership emphasised the need to become a leaner organisation, capable of responding faster to competition. The company faces mounting pressure from rivals in the AI space, many of whom have introduced popular generative tools at a faster pace.
Employees have reacted with uncertainty, as previous rounds of restructuring have already reshaped the company’s workforce. Analysts suggest the cuts reflect a broader trend across the technology sector, where firms are balancing ambitious innovation with tighter financial discipline.
Despite the job losses, Meta insists it remains committed to AI development. Executives argue that artificial intelligence will underpin future growth, particularly in advertising, content recommendation and user engagement. However, the company appears determined to pursue that vision with a smaller workforce and clearer commercial priorities.
Author: Abel Vazquez Sanchez