Meta Platforms Inc. has initiated a significant round of workforce reductions as part of a broader restructuring aimed at concentrating more resources on artificial intelligence (AI) development. Employees in Meta’s Singapore office were reportedly among the first to receive layoff notices via email. local time, signalling the start of job cuts that could affect thousands of staff worldwide.
The restructuring is expected to lead to the elimination of roughly 8,000 positions globally, representing approximately 10 per cent of Meta’s total workforce. According to internal communications shared with staff, in addition to the layoffs, the company is also shifting thousands of employees into new AI-focused teams — a move seen as central to its ongoing transformation into an AI-centric organisation.
Meta’s Chief People Officer, Janelle Gale, outlined in an internal memo that affected employees would receive notices in phased waves across different time zones, with Singapore’s early notifications followed by similar communications planned for offices in the United States, Europe and other regions. Employees in several countries were reportedly asked to work from home on the day of the layoffs as the emails were sent in the early hours.
In addition to the 8,000 job cuts, around 7,000 Meta employees are being reassigned to newly formed divisions focused on AI products and innovation, illustrating the company’s determination to build up its AI capabilities. The changes are part of a broader effort to flatten organisational structures by reducing managerial layers in favour of smaller, faster-moving teams dedicated to AI-driven workflows.
The layoffs and internal reassignment come amid Meta’s substantial investment in AI infrastructure and research. The company has signalled plans for significant capital expenditure on AI technologies this year, underscoring the strategic importance of artificial intelligence to its long-term business direction.
While Meta has emphasised that these workforce changes are intended to streamline operations and enhance focus on AI priorities, the move has underscored the continued impact of automation and shifting business models in the technology sector. This round of layoffs adds to broader industry trends in which major tech companies have reduced headcount as part of efficiency drives and strategic pivots toward AI and machine learning initiatives.
