Meta Begins Global Job Cuts as Company Pushes Deeper Into Artificial Intelligence

Meta has reportedly started a new round of global layoffs, beginning in Singapore, as the company moves forward with plans to reduce around 8,000 jobs while increasing its focus on artificial intelligence.

According to reports, affected employees in Singapore received emails around 4 a.m. local time on Tuesday. Staff in the United States and Europe were also expected to receive notifications later that day. The company’s engineering and product divisions are believed to be among the hardest hit by the cuts.

Meta is among several major technology companies reducing staff while investing heavily in AI systems to improve efficiency and lower operating costs. Reports show that nearly 49,135 workers have lost jobs across US companies in 2026 due to AI-related restructuring and automation.

Janelle Gale Says Smaller Teams Will Move Faster

In a company memo, Meta’s Head of People, Janelle Gale, explained that a “flatter structure” and smaller teams would help the company work more efficiently.

“We believe this will make us more productive and make the work more rewarding,” Gale reportedly wrote in the memo.

People familiar with the matter said additional layoffs could happen later this year as Meta continues adjusting its workforce.

AI Spending Continues to Raise Investor Questions

Meta’s aggressive push into AI has also sparked concerns among investors over whether the spending will deliver long-term returns. Mark Zuckerberg, has already invested more than $100 billion into AI-related development.

Meta is also planning to build what could become the world’s largest AI facility in Louisiana, with an estimated value of up to $200 billion.

Employee Concerns Grow Over AI Data Collection

Earlier this month, Meta employees reportedly criticized an internal initiative involving data collection from workplace devices, including keystrokes, mouse movements and screen activity, to help train AI systems.

The latest layoffs also reflect a wider trend across tech and crypto companies. Firms including Block, Coinbase and Crypto.com have also reduced staff in recent months as businesses shift toward leaner, AI-focused operations.