Meta layoffs: 10pc workforce cut as company invests in AI and shuts thousands of open roles

Meta has announced plans to cut around 10 percent of its workforce, affecting roughly 8,000 employees, as it continues to invest heavily in artificial intelligence.

According to a memo by chief people officer Janelle Gale, published by Bloomberg, the company will also close about 6,000 open roles.

The layoffs are set to take effect on 20 May.

“We’re doing this as part of our continued effort to run the company more efficiently and to allow us to offset the other investments we’re making,” Gale wrote.

Meta has significantly increased spending on AI infrastructure, including data centres, with capital expenditures reaching $72.2 billion in 2025.

The company expects this to rise to at least $115 billion in 2026, as it competes with firms such as OpenAI.

Chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said earlier this year: “We’re starting to see projects that used to require big teams now be accomplished by a single very talented person.”

The cuts follow a broader trend across the tech sector with Amazon recently announcing 16,000 layoffs, while fintech firm Block said it would reduce its workforce by 40 percent.

Meta said affected US employees will receive severance packages, with similar support planned internationally.