Meta has started cutting 8,000 jobs globally, beginning in Singapore, as part of an efficiency drive fueled by artificial intelligence. Affected employees in Singapore received emails at 4 a.m. local time, with notifications also expected to hit staff in the U.S. and Europe. Engineering and product teams are expected to be the hardest hit.
This round of cuts is part of a broader trend among Big Tech firms trimming headcount while investing heavily in AI infrastructure. An estimated 49,135 layoffs at U.S. companies in 2026 have been attributed to AI integration. Crypto firms, including Block, Coinbase, and Crypto.com, have also recently reduced their workforces.
In an internal memo, Meta’s head of people, Janelle Gale, said the company’s "flatter structure" and "smaller teams" would allow it to move faster and be more productive. Sources suggest additional layoffs may follow later this year.
Meta has already poured over $100 billion into AI, with plans to build a $200 billion AI facility in Louisiana. This spending has raised investor concerns about returns, especially as the company shifts focus from the metaverse, having spent $80 billion on that effort before shutting down its Horizon Worlds VR platform.