Meta to Cut 8,000 Jobs -- About 10% of Workforce

Meta announced plans to cut roughly 8,000 jobs -- about 10% of its workforce -- to drive efficiency and help offset an estimated $125-145 billion in AI capital spending. The cuts began rolling out around May 20.

Why Did This Happen?

Massive AI capital expenditure of an estimated $125-145 billion pressures operating costs

Management is prioritizing efficiency and flatter organizational structures

Reallocation of resources toward AI and infrastructure over legacy headcount

Continuation of a multi-year efficiency drive following earlier reorganizations

Cuts span multiple divisions as Meta concentrates investment on AI

Impact Analysis

The 8,000-job reduction is one of 2026's largest single tech layoffs and reflects how aggressive AI capex is forcing even highly profitable companies to fund compute by trimming headcount. Affecting roughly 10% of staff across functions, it adds to a tech-sector downturn that saw the highest first-quarter cuts since 2023, with AI repeatedly cited as a driver.

Source: TechCrunchView original

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