Meta is reportedly laying off up to 20 percent of its staff

"Meta is looking to offset spending on AI and data centers with a massive round of layoffs. Sources familiar with the matter say the company could lay off as much as 20 percent of its staff, eliminating roughly 15,800 positions. That would be the largest series of layoffs at the company since it terminated 22,000 workers over just a few months between November 2022 and early 2023."

"Word of the potential downsizing comes after Meta signaled that it was all but giving up on VR and the Metaverse, slashing budgets and closing studios. Instead, the company has been spending big to attract AI talent, build data centers, and acquire companies like Moltbook."

Meta is considering significant workforce reductions of up to 20 percent, affecting roughly 15,800 employees, to fund substantial investments in artificial intelligence and data center infrastructure. This would represent the company's largest layoff since November 2022 when it eliminated 22,000 positions. The company has shifted strategic focus away from virtual reality and the Metaverse, closing studios and reducing related budgets. Instead, Meta is prioritizing AI talent acquisition, data center development, and strategic acquisitions like Moltbook. The company simultaneously faces ongoing controversies regarding its smart glasses technology, chatbot systems, and effects on teenage users.

Read at The Verge