Meta Shifts 7,000 Roles to AI Units as Tech Giant Reshuffles Priorities

Meta is making a major bet on artificial intelligence, moving 7,000 employees into new teams dedicated to building AI tools and applications. The internal reshuffle, confirmed by HR chief Janelle Gale in a memo obtained by Reuters and The New York Times, comes as the company also prepares to lay off roughly 8,000 workers this week.

Gale told staff the reorganization will create four new divisions using “AI native design structures” with fewer management layers, aiming to boost productivity and make work more rewarding. Some employees have already been transferred, while others will receive notifications about their new roles—or layoffs—on Wednesday. Those affected by cuts will receive 16 weeks of severance, plus two additional weeks for each year of service.

The moves reflect Meta’s pivot away from its metaverse ambitions toward AI infrastructure. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has told investors the company plans to spend between $115 billion and $135 billion this year, mostly on AI development. Meta is building massive data centers, forming a “superintelligence” team, and embedding its chatbot across products. With roughly 78,000 employees at the end of 2025, the layoffs will trim about 10% of the workforce, and Reuters reports more cuts may follow later this year.