Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced a strategic workforce reshaping today, combining layoffs of underperforming employees with an accelerated recruitment drive for artificial intelligence expertise.
The tech giant is laying off approximately 3,600 employees globally, representing 5% of its total workforce. The cuts target employees identified as low performers across various departments and regions.
However, even as it trims its workforce, Meta is aggressively pursuing new talent in machine learning and engineering roles. The company has launched an expedited hiring process running from February 11 to March 13, specifically aimed at strengthening its AI capabilities.
This dual approach reflects Meta's shifting priorities toward artificial intelligence development, particularly as its Llama AI model faces steep competition. The company's AI offerings have struggled to match the capabilities of OpenAI's ChatGPT and have recently been outperformed by Chinese competitor DeepSeek.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg is directing substantial resources toward enhancing Llama's capabilities, viewing AI development as central to Meta's future. The restructuring appears to align with broader industry trends, as other tech giants like Microsoft have also recently announced similar workforce adjustments.
The market has responded positively to Meta's strategic moves, with the company's stock maintaining stability following the announcement. The shares have shown strong performance, rising over 22% since the beginning of the year and more than 53% over the past twelve months.
This realignment of Meta's workforce demonstrates the company's commitment to staying competitive in the rapidly evolving AI landscape while maintaining operational efficiency through performance-based staffing decisions.