Meta employees expressed frustration after reports revealed the company plans to cut nearly 8,000 jobs despite strong profits and expanding AI investments.
SAN FRANCISCO: Meta employees are reacting with growing anger and frustration after reports revealed the company plans to eliminate around 8,000 jobs later this month despite posting record quarterly profits. According to multiple reports, the layoffs are expected to affect nearly 10 per cent of Meta’s global workforce across platforms including Facebook and Instagram.
The latest Meta job cuts are reportedly scheduled for May 20 and come shortly after the company announced quarterly revenue of US$56.31 billion and net income of US$26.8 billion for the first quarter of 2026. The contrast between strong financial performance and large-scale redundancies has triggered widespread criticism among workers.
Several current and former employees reportedly described morale inside the company as extremely low, with some staff members allegedly hoping to be included in the layoffs to secure severance benefits and extended healthcare coverage. Internal concerns have also intensified after Meta reduced stock-based compensation packages for employees in recent years.
Company executives have linked the Meta job cuts to rising artificial intelligence infrastructure spending and long-term operational restructuring. Chief executive Mark Zuckerberg reportedly told employees that increasing AI investments are forcing the company to adopt a leaner business structure while continuing aggressive expansion into advanced AI systems.
Meta’s projected AI-related capital expenditure for 2026 is expected to range between US$125 billion and US$145 billion, nearly double the previous year’s spending. At the same time, the company has reportedly offered extremely high compensation packages to attract top artificial intelligence researchers for its growing AI divisions.
The latest developments have also renewed criticism surrounding employee monitoring policies introduced at some US offices. Reports suggest Meta recently expanded internal tracking systems capable of recording keystrokes, mouse activity and workplace application usage to help train AI systems.
Industry observers say the Meta job cuts highlight wider tensions across the global technology sector, where companies continue balancing rapid AI expansion with workforce restructuring and rising operational costs despite strong revenues and investor confidence.
