Meta to cut 8,000 jobs this week as AI spending surges

[Oshosondy]

It is said that 8000 jobs represents like 10% of Meta's workforce. I was guessing this could happen when we saw the news that Meta is building an AI that will help their workers. But after few weeks, this is what we have seen.

https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/meta-cut-8-000-jobs-125254890.html

I do not see it as job loss though, I see it as a job loss that is replaced by another job vacancy elsewhere like in AI businesses or in modern day employment.

[Wiwo]

The structures of modern day productivity is changing, humans are beginning to give way to automated machines.

Funny thing is that those 8,000 employees about to be effected are among the meta workforce that labour to produce the huge resources invested into AI development and now their giving way to those AI.

Alot is changing in the global workforce and most tech companies are changing hands.

[viljy]

AI takes jobs away from people one way or another. The more unemployment there is, the lower the effective demand, including for AI tokens. If AI takes away all people's jobs, how will AI generate profits for corporations? Most likely, humanity is moving towards a new social structure in which profit will not be the engine of the economy. And there will be no economy as such in the usual sense.

It will be a cross between a concentration camp and feudalism. Well, then each corporation will have its own digital concentration camp. If there is no free trade, then there will be no need for advertising and marketing, which means that social networks will become a tool for control, a social rating that gives a bonus when distributing food given out by a corporation for good behavior.

[aoluain]

I think this is the start of what is to come.

AI is designed to make the top 1% of the population wealthier at the expense of everyone else.
I dont see this as a shock per say, this has been talked about for a few years now.

I have a friend who works in IT and they have all been advised to try and find a way to make their
jobs AI enhanced rather than AI replaceable because thats whats coming down the line. Anyone
sitting at a computer pushing a mouse around is at risk of losing their job in the next 2 to 5 years.

Those meta jobs are definitely losses, no other way to look at it.

[Synchronice]

I don't understand why so many people want to work in corporate companies instead of focusing on their own business. I mean, there are people who have finances and resources, connections as well but they still aim to become a workforce of corporate company. Okay, maybe it's a good decision to build connections further but after spending 5 or more years and still earning almost the same salary (thanks to inflation too), what's the point? You are nothing for a company and they can fire you at any time they want. That's why we should focus on your business.

By the way, I'm wondering, what were the type of jobs that they replaced? Are they replacing software developers who have at least 1-2 years of work experience? Or are they replacing unskilled workers?

[Hypnotizer]

I think this is the start of what is to come.

AI is designed to make the top 1% of the population wealthier at the expense of everyone else.
I dont see this as a shock per se, this has been talked about for a few years now.

That’s it! The1% are those selling the narratives that AI is here to help everyone but what are we seeing right now? The other side are losing their “corporate jobs” while we see the wealthy people becoming more wealthier but nevertheless in everything they must be an opportunity and those who spots the opportunities will benefits from it, so instead of blaming anyone we just need to put in the effort in developing skills and searching for the potential opportunities.

I have a friend who works in IT and they have all been advised to try and find a way to make their
jobs AI enhanced rather than AI replaceable because thats whats coming down the line. Anyone
sitting at a computer pushing a mouse around is at risk of losing their job in the next 2 to 5 years.

Even so, just a very few IT people can be able to maintain their jobs in the nearest future, so the best they can do it maybe develop some new areas where they can vest their skills and knowledge while also working with the AI.

[snowpega]

It is said that 8000 jobs represents like 10% of Meta's workforce. I was guessing this could happen when we saw the news that Meta is building an AI that will help their workers. But after few weeks, this is what we have seen.

https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/meta-cut-8-000-jobs-125254890.html

I do not see it as job loss though, I see it as a job loss that is replaced by another job vacancy elsewhere like in AI businesses or in modern day employment.

Sad to see that companies have started moving this side and firing their employees to deploy AI for company work as an alternative. IF thing keeps moving faster this way, then I wonder the rate of unemployment will start to increase rapidly. I think companies should not fire their employees this way rather, they should consider the use of AI by their employees to improve company work. Doing both things can be helpful side by side, where the rate of employment will not be affected.

Other than this, I was reading a good law implemented by China that AI can not replace the jobs of employees. You can also read it here.

A Chinese court ruled that companies cannot terminate employees just to replace them with artificial intelligence systems, as authorities juggle the need to stabilize the domestic labor market with a global race to develop AI technologies.

https://fortune.com/2026/05/03/chinese-court-layoffs-workers-ai-replacement-labor-market/

And after reading your post, I started to feel that this rule should be implemented internationally to keep the employment rate healthy. What do you say?

[Coyster]

There are also more rounds of layoff expected later in the year for Meta, if i remember correctly, in August and also some time much later in the year. So there is more to come and it is not just Meta, almost all tech companies are going down this route and it is going to continue in this way. Their announcement is that this downsizing is necessary, in order to make them more efficient, i guess that in simple terms it means as they increase their investment in Ai, they are cutting down on manpower expenditure.

In another news, Cisco, which is also a tech company is also downsizing, cutting off 4000 employees. The reason? They want to focus more on AI and increase their investments in the industry. It is what it is and don't expect this trend to stop; it's the future.

[avp2306]

It is said that 8000 jobs represents like 10% of Meta's workforce. I was guessing this could happen when we saw the news that Meta is building an AI that will help their workers. But after few weeks, this is what we have seen.

https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/meta-cut-8-000-jobs-125254890.html

I do not see it as job loss though, I see it as a job loss that is replaced by another job vacancy elsewhere like in AI businesses or in modern day employment.

This is the big disadvantage of this technology since there's huge possibilities that lots of people will lose their jobs. The current situation happening on Meta is a huge indicator that there's provably more companies will go full blown use of Ai then again many people losses their jobs.

I think its time for government to regulate this technology and those companies using it. If they allow this action this one will cause a huge decline of labor force and will cost huge unemployment rate. Now its time for people to adopt on the technology since if they didn't learn Ai they might get left behind and struggle to find jobs that pays competitive salary.

[Alpha Marine]

AI is designed to make the top 1% of the population wealthier at the expense of everyone else.

I get it that the rich would always do what favours the rich, but isn't that the way of life? Isn't that how the world is built? We don't live in a utopian society where everything goes.
The industry where these companies are is a very brutal one, so if they don't evolve with the industry, they will be left behind. It's not cool for people to lose their jobs over it, but this is what happens when an innovation that is able to do those jobs is made.

AI is not the first, and as long as the world doesn't end, it won't be the last. The world is ever-changing. Every era brings different challenges and things they have to deal with. It was someone's job to manually light all the street lights in a major city with fire, then one day, it was possible for all the lights to be turned on at the same time, then one day, the lights didn't even need anybody to turn them on. They just turn on when it's dark.
I know it sucks, but the world has always been like that.

I don't understand why so many people want to work in corporate companies instead of focusing on their own business. I mean, there are people who have finances and resources, connections as well but they still aim to become a workforce of corporate company.

You people need to understand that not everybody wants to own a business. Some people actually want the career. How hard is that to understand? Some people study to build a career in a particular field. Not everybody has a dream to start a business, and that is fine. In fact, not everybody can have a business.

Then there are things you're not considering. Leaving a career you've been building for 10 years to go and start a business is not an easy decision to make. You have no idea how the business will go, and the amount of hours and time you have to put into it.
Then there is even the knowledge. How well do they know the business and industry they're going into? It's very easy to say "start a business", but keepng that buinesses alive and being profitable while enjoying yourself more than you were while being an employee is a whole different thing all together.

[bhadz]

It is said that 8000 jobs represents like 10% of Meta's workforce. I was guessing this could happen when we saw the news that Meta is building an AI that will help their workers. But after few weeks, this is what we have seen.

https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/meta-cut-8-000-jobs-125254890.html

I do not see it as job loss though, I see it as a job loss that is replaced by another job vacancy elsewhere like in AI businesses or in modern day employment.

There is a shift to AI and those jobs that are lost, they will be replaced with new jobs but I don't think that they'll be the same in numbers. As with AI, the productivity is way better and that's why they're decreasing the number of human work force. Everyone has to upskill especially those who have been in the tech industry. It's expected that most of the jobs there will be needing with AI interaction and that's why the skills that are AI related will be the ones in advantage when the basic skills will be replaced by it.

[aoluain]

AI is designed to make the top 1% of the population wealthier at the expense of everyone else.

I get it that the rich would always do what favours the rich, but isn't that the way of life? Isn't that how the world is built? We don't live in a utopian society where everything goes.
The industry where these companies are is a very brutal one, so if they don't evolve with the industry, they will be left behind. It's not cool for people to lose their jobs over it, but this is what happens when an innovation that is able to do those jobs is made.

AI is not the first, and as long as the world doesn't end, it won't be the last. The world is ever-changing. Every era brings different challenges and things they have to deal with. It was someone's job to manually light all the street lights in a major city with fire, then one day, it was possible for all the lights to be turned on at the same time, then one day, the lights didn't even need anybody to turn them on. They just turn on when it's dark.
I know it sucks, but the world has always been like that.

Well I dont disagree with you. Essentially you describe how there is a wealth divide in the world now
and how its going to get worse. We are all walking right into this with our eyes wide open.  Personally
I refuse to use AI as much as I can.

In general we have no problem engaging with AI but at the same time we ourselves are creating a
demand for something which could put us out of a job in the future. I think the implications are very
worrying for the future.

Those 8000 meta staff might be able to get a job elsewhere in the short to medium term but in the
not so distant future the availability of jobs will shrink and the demand for the dwindling ones will
increase and it will be too late when the masses realise what happened.

[robelneo]

It is said that 8000 jobs represents like 10% of Meta's workforce. I was guessing this could happen when we saw the news that Meta is building an AI that will help their workers. But after few weeks, this is what we have seen.

There will be more rounds of job cuts coming, based on the article you provided

Finance chief Susan Li said during the first-quarter earnings call that executives "don't really know what the optimal size of the company will be in the future."

, after Coinbase job cuts and now Meta, these are giant companies in their industry; the small industries are now looking at how to utilize AI to maximize production and reduce costs, and that is by cutting humans from their positions.

[Coyster]

It's very easy to say "start a business", but keepng that buinesses alive and being profitable while enjoying yourself more than you were while being an employee is a whole different thing all together.

I Completely agree with you. It is not the first time in this board, neither will it be the last, were i read posts of users telling people to go start a business, rather than work in an organization. I find it funny and i wonder if some of those people have businesses of their own. There is so much to consider before starting a business and i'll mention a few: what kind of business is it? (the idea) What are your chances of success in that business? (feasibility studies), competition? Capital? Are you creating something new, (innovative entrepreneur) or are you entering an already existing market that is already saturated? And lots more too.

You see, there is no guarantee of success in doing that, like some people make it to be. Of course it's good to try it, being an entrepreneur means you are ready to take risks, that's the same way it is also acceptable to work within an organization and progress in your career.

[YOSHIE]

I do not see it as job loss though, I see it as a job loss that is replaced by another job vacancy elsewhere like in AI businesses or in modern day employment.

I'm starting to worry about changes in AI technology, I should think carefully and long about the risks and effects of AI technology, as we know in general, Al it has infrastructure and maintenance all the time and I'm sure meta will loosen the new budget for GPU clusters and it will be a budget Swelling for that.

On the other hand, if the role of humans is no longer used by meta, this will have an impact on reducing creativity in human decisions themselves, what's more, the AI ​​technology that we know currently has weaknesses and this could lead to potential misuse. Of course, in terms of disseminating personal information and data, not to mention AI systems that can automate all activities or dangerous activities, this will be a challenge and risk for the Meta company in the future. I hope that meta's decision this time to lay off employees will not have a bad impact in the future.

[rezakurnia66]

It is said that 8000 jobs represents like 10% of Meta's workforce. I was guessing this could happen when we saw the news that Meta is building an AI that will help their workers. But after few weeks, this is what we have seen.

https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/meta-cut-8-000-jobs-125254890.html

I do not see it as job loss though, I see it as a job loss that is replaced by another job vacancy elsewhere like in AI businesses or in modern day employment.

The AI era right now just waiting only how many people to cut from their job replacing by AI and the Company get much benefit trough AI more efficient in terms of managing salaries. I think in the future around few months or years later just waiting for all company more dominance handle their project with AI and cut off many employ of their company, need upgrade our skill to be better and most smart than AI.
If can't compete with AI we have back to traditional working and need time adapting as well as again, today 8000 people loss their job at Meta maybe one or two months later this company will cut many worker again.

[Fortify]

It is said that 8000 jobs represents like 10% of Meta's workforce. I was guessing this could happen when we saw the news that Meta is building an AI that will help their workers. But after few weeks, this is what we have seen.

I do not see it as job loss though, I see it as a job loss that is replaced by another job vacancy elsewhere like in AI businesses or in modern day employment.

There is constantly the claim these days that such jobs are going to be replaced by AI and there is the possibility that certain functions can be completed by AI, however I am skeptical that the same quality of service remains afterwards. It's often lower tier jobs like customer services or moderation that get cut, but you can actually notice a decline in the quality of the site afterwards even if it is not a complete drop off. It ends up with a much crappier user experience and can actually be the cause of later cuts as people drift away from the site. A company always has to stay nimble, keep up with trends and reimagine itself but it often feels like such cuts are arbitrary so they can hit a certain number in a spreadsheet rather than what's actually best for the long term future.

[Zlantann]

It is said that 8000 jobs represents like 10% of Meta's workforce. I was guessing this could happen when we saw the news that Meta is building an AI that will help their workers. But after few weeks, this is what we have seen.

https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/meta-cut-8-000-jobs-125254890.html

I do not see it as job loss though, I see it as a job loss that is replaced by another job vacancy elsewhere like in AI businesses or in modern day employment.

According to the article, more job cuts are still coming this year. Each time I get information that a company is investing heavily in Artificial Intelligence, I perceive that job cuts are around the corner.

I don't blame these companies for cutting jobs since AI tools are doing jobs perfectly. These organizations are targeting to make more profit in the future after their massive investment in AI.

Most of my colleagues are seeking alternative means of income because nobody knows who will be replaced by this new technology. It would also be safer to devise means of integrating AI into our work skills. So that we can perform tasks faster, easier and cheaper.

[Cryptomultiplier]

It is said that 8000 jobs represents like 10% of Meta's workforce. I was guessing this could happen when we saw the news that Meta is building an AI that will help their workers. But after few weeks, this is what we have seen.

https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/meta-cut-8-000-jobs-125254890.html

I do not see it as job loss though, I see it as a job loss that is replaced by another job vacancy elsewhere like in AI businesses or in modern day employment.

According to the article, more job cuts are still coming this year. Each time I get information that a company is investing heavily in Artificial Intelligence, I perceive that job cuts are around the corner.

I don't blame these companies for cutting jobs since AI tools are doing jobs perfectly. These organizations are targeting to make more profit in the future after their massive investment in AI.

Most of my colleagues are seeking alternative means of income because nobody knows who will be replaced by this new technology. It would also be safer to devise means of integrating AI into our work skills. So that we can perform tasks faster, easier and cheaper.

This massive kind of job cut is not the first to happen and we would still see more happening in time mostly for the more technologically driven companies that have invested so much into integration of AI to make jobs easier and faster.

This calls for the need of Ai specialist in this current future where the knowledge and applications of AI is gaining massive grounds, because this is the only way to retain or create a job for yourself without needing a salary from a boss at the end of the month.

This is more of what is known as destructive evolution in technology, where a previous technology system gets totally replaced by a new and more promising one for efficiency and productivity.

I would like to think that the vacancy created by this job cut only creates a new role that would require the understanding of how to manage and maintain the AI systems because AI can't function without human intelligence in the end.

[el kaka22]

People also need to realize, sometimes companies fire a lot of people not because of AI neither. AI has been a "big" thing for the past 3 to 5 years, not even fully 5 years to be fair, but lets call it 5 years. There has been cases of companies firing 1000+ people before that too, not the same companies, but every year, few companies did that. Look back in history and you will see plenty of that happened.

GM for example a big car company, once fired over 20k people in a single year. So this not new. Just because we have AI now, doesn't mean that it's the only reason, yes it's one of the reasons, the CEO's and board thinks that they can fire the junior devs and make the senior devs use AI to supplement that, but it's not the ONLY reason.