Meta May Cut More Than 20% of Jobs as Zuckerberg Expands AI Investments: Report

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oi-Swastika Sruti

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, is reportedly planning large-scale layoffs that could affect 20 percent or more of its workforce.

The move comes as the company increases spending on artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and looks to improve efficiency through AI-powered tools.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the exact number of job cuts and the timeline have not yet been finalised. However, senior executives have already begun discussions internally about reducing staff in several departments.

Potentially One of Meta’s Largest Job Cuts

If the layoffs reach the reported 20 percent level, it would become one of the biggest workforce reductions in Meta’s history.

As of December 2025, the company employed nearly 79,000 people worldwide. A reduction of 20 percent could impact thousands of employees.

Meta has previously carried out major layoffs in recent years. In November 2022, the company cut about 11,000 jobs, representing roughly 13 percent of its workforce. A few months later, in early 2023, Meta announced another round of layoffs affecting around 10,000 employees as part of its restructuring plan known as the “Year of Efficiency.”

The company has not officially confirmed the new layoffs.

Zuckerberg’s Focus on Generative AI

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been aggressively pushing the company to become a leader in generative artificial intelligence.
Over the past year, Meta has been investing heavily in AI research, hiring top experts and offering extremely large compensation packages to attract leading AI researchers.

Some of these packages are reportedly worth hundreds of millions of dollars over several years, highlighting how seriously Meta is pursuing its AI ambitions.

The company is also developing a new superintelligence team that focuses on building advanced AI systems capable of performing complex tasks.

Billions Planned for AI Infrastructure

Meta has also announced massive investments in infrastructure needed to support AI technology.

The company plans to spend up to $600 billion by 2028 to build large data centers that will power AI models and services.

In addition, Meta has recently taken several strategic steps to strengthen its AI capabilities:

• Acquisition of Moltbook, a social networking platform designed for AI agents
• Plans to invest at least $2 billion to acquire the Chinese AI startup Manus
• Expansion of research teams working on advanced AI models

These investments show that Meta sees artificial intelligence as a key driver of its future growth.

AI Changing How Companies Work

Zuckerberg has suggested that improvements in AI technology could significantly change the way companies operate.

Earlier this year, he said that many projects that once required large teams of engineers can now be handled by a single highly skilled person using advanced AI tools.

This shift is one of the reasons why companies are considering smaller workforces while relying more on automation and AI-assisted productivity.

Part of a Wider Tech Industry Trend

Meta’s possible layoffs reflect a broader trend across the technology industry.
Several major companies have recently announced workforce reductions as they invest more in artificial intelligence and automation.

For example:

Amazon confirmed earlier this year that it would cut around 16,000 jobs, nearly 10 percent of its workforce.

Fintech company Block, led by Jack Dorsey, recently reduced nearly half of its staff, citing improvements in AI tools that allow companies to operate with smaller teams.

Many executives now believe that AI will dramatically reshape corporate workforces in the coming years.

Challenges With Meta’s AI Models

Despite its heavy investment in AI, Meta has faced several challenges with its own AI systems.

Last year, the company’s Llama 4 AI model faced criticism after early benchmark results were questioned. Meta eventually cancelled the planned release of the largest version of the model, known as Behemoth.

Meta’s new AI research team is currently developing another model called Avocado, which aims to improve the company’s position in the AI race. However, reports suggest that its performance has not yet fully met expectations.

While the final decision has not been confirmed, reports of potential layoffs have created uncertainty among Meta employees.