Meta is laying off over 600 employees from its Superintelligence Labs AI division to boost agility and reduce bureaucracy, affecting teams in FAIR, product AI, and AI infrastructure, as announced in an internal memo by Chief AI Officer Alexandr Wang.
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Meta’s layoffs target bureaucratic roles to give workers more impact and scope within the company.
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U.S. employees will be notified by 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time about their status.
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Impacted staff are encouraged to apply for internal positions, with Meta still investing $15 billion in AI.
Discover why Meta is cutting 600+ AI jobs in 2025 amid restructuring—boosting efficiency while hiring key talent. Stay ahead with insights on tech layoffs. Read more now.
What is causing Meta’s layoffs in its AI Superintelligence Labs?
Meta AI layoffs in the Superintelligence Labs are driven by a need to enhance company agility and eliminate excessive bureaucracy, according to an internal memo from Chief AI Officer Alexandr Wang. The cuts, affecting over 600 employees across FAIR, product AI, and AI infrastructure teams, aim to empower remaining staff with greater scope and impact in their roles. This restructuring aligns with Meta’s broader strategy to streamline operations while pursuing ambitious AI goals.
How is Meta supporting affected employees during these AI team changes?
Meta expects most impacted employees to transition to other internal roles and is actively encouraging applications for open positions within the company. Wang emphasized in the memo that this is a talented group whose skills are needed elsewhere at Meta. Notifications for U.S. employees are set for 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time, ensuring a structured process amid the changes. This approach helps maintain talent retention despite the layoffs.
Despite the reductions, Meta remains committed to AI advancement. The company is continuing to hire for its newly formed TBD lab, part of a significant $15 billion investment in AI through partnerships like Scale AI. Recent additions include experts such as Ananya Kumar, formerly a research scientist at OpenAI, and Andrew Tulloch, co-founder of Thinking Machines. These moves reflect CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s push for groundbreaking AI developments.
Wang expressed optimism in his communication, stating that the team is excited about ongoing model training, compute strategies, and product builds, confident in the path toward superintelligence. This restructuring follows previous workforce adjustments, including over 11,000 layoffs in November 2022, which represented about 13% of Meta’s staff during a challenging period of investor concerns and declining shares.
Financial pressures continue to influence decisions, with Meta’s third-quarter costs rising 19% year-over-year to $22.1 billion, operating income dropping 46% to $5.66 billion, and overall sales falling 4% to $27.71 billion. These figures highlight the economic context behind efforts to optimize operations.
“I’m really excited about the models we’re training, our compute plans, and the products we’re building, and I’m confident in our path to build towards superintelligence.”
– Alexandr Wang, Chief AI Officer, Meta.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the details of Meta’s 2025 AI division layoffs?
Meta is eliminating over 600 positions in its Superintelligence Labs, targeting teams in FAIR, product AI, and infrastructure to remove bureaucratic hurdles and increase efficiency, as outlined in an internal memo. The changes aim to refocus efforts on core AI innovations without speculation on broader impacts.
Why are global companies like Meta attributing layoffs to AI advancements?
Many firms, including Meta, cite AI as a tool to enhance productivity and streamline operations, leading to staff reductions in non-essential roles. This trend is evident across sectors, where AI handles repetitive tasks, allowing companies to reallocate resources, though experts suggest it sometimes masks other economic factors for a more positive narrative.
Key Takeaways
- Streamlining for Agility: Meta’s layoffs focus on cutting bureaucracy to empower employees with broader responsibilities in AI development.
- Investment Continues: Despite cuts, a $15 billion AI commitment and new hires signal strong ongoing dedication to superintelligence goals.
- Broader Industry Trend: AI-driven restructurings are common, but underlying issues like post-pandemic overhiring may contribute to decisions.
Global companies blame AI for widespread layoffs of staff
Across industries from technology to aviation, major corporations are reducing headcounts as artificial intelligence integrates into operations, raising concerns among workers. For instance, technology consulting firm Accenture outlined a reorganization involving quick layoffs for staff unable to upskill in AI. Similarly, airline Lufthansa plans to cut 4,000 jobs by 2030 to leverage AI for productivity gains.
Other examples include Salesforce dismissing 4,000 customer service roles, asserting AI can manage half its workload. Finance firm Klarna reduced 40% of its staff amid AI implementation, while language app Duolingo shifts from contractors to AI solutions. These actions demonstrate AI’s transformative role in workforce dynamics.
Nobody should be surprised of these Meta layoffs.
In August, I said there was an internal revolt brewing inside Meta’s AI org.
600+ FAIR layoffs.
“Superintelligence” lab consolidation is confirmed.I will say here and now that ‘Superintelligence’ is the cover story… pic.twitter.com/mABVlbrTey
— Amanda Goodall (@thejobchick) October 22, 2025
Fabian Stephany, Assistant Professor in AI and Work at the Oxford Internet Institute, questions whether these reductions truly stem from AI efficiencies. He views AI as a convenient justification for tough choices, allowing companies to appear innovative while addressing deeper issues.
“I’m really skeptical whether the layoffs that we see currently are really due to true efficiency gains. It’s really a projection into AI in the sense of ‘We can use AI to make good excuses.”
– Fabian Stephany, Assistant Professor in AI and Work, Oxford Internet Institute.
Stephany points out that firms can position themselves as AI leaders to gain competitive edges, concealing factors like overhiring during the COVID-19 pandemic. Companies such as Duolingo and Klarna, which expanded rapidly then, may now be correcting course through these measures, framing them as AI progress rather than market adjustments.
Conclusion
Meta’s AI layoffs in Superintelligence Labs underscore a strategic pivot toward greater efficiency and focus amid substantial investments, while broader AI-driven layoffs reflect industry-wide shifts. As companies navigate these changes, balancing innovation with workforce impacts remains key. Looking ahead, stakeholders should monitor how AI continues to reshape tech landscapes, preparing for evolving opportunities in this dynamic field.
