‘We need to take down the size of the company’: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg signals more layoffs

In a recent internal town hall, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed plans to trim the company's workforce by 10% in May 2026, with additional layoffs possible later in the year. This move comes as Meta increases its investment in artificial intelligence, which Zuckerberg indicated as a significant factor behind the restructuring decisions. Zuckerberg explained that the company's escalating costs in AI-driven initiatives are forcing a reevaluation of its workforce size. "We basically have two major cost centres in the company: compute infrastructure and people-oriented things," he stated. The CEO further elaborated that reallocating resources toward AI means less funding available for other areas, necessitating a reduction in personnel. Despite discussions around AI potentially automating jobs, Zuckerberg clarified that this is not a primary driver of the layoffs at Meta. Instead, he emphasized the importance of integrating AI tools to enhance efficiency among current employees. He noted, "Getting everyone internally to use AI tools and getting to do the work more efficiently is not the thing that's driving layoffs." Chief People Officer Janelle Gale added that while the current round of layoffs may affect over 8,000 employees, there are no definitive plans for future cuts. She acknowledged the company's strong performance but pointed to shifting priorities, competitive pressures, and the need for cost management as contributing factors to the layoffs. Gale also mentioned Meta's new initiative to monitor employee activity through mouse movements and clicks to aid in training AI agents. As Zuckerberg candidly stated, he cannot predict how the situation will evolve, saying, "I wish that I can tell you that I have a crystal ball plan for the next, like, three years of how all this stuff is going to play out. I don't. I don't think anyone does."