Meta's Strategic AI Workforce Shift: Layoffs and Superintelligence Focus

Meta, formerly Facebook, is implementing significant workforce changes by laying off 600 employees from its Reality Labs and other divisions while simultaneously expanding its artificial intelligence initiatives. The company plans to cut jobs primarily affecting technical program managers but maintains its commitment to hiring AI talent for superintelligence development. This restructuring reflects Meta’s evolving priorities, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasizing the company’s focus on becoming a leader in artificial general intelligence (AGI). The layoffs are part of Meta’s “year of efficiency,” following previous workforce reductions of about 21,000 employees in 2023. Despite these cuts, Meta has actively recruited AI researchers and engineers, demonstrating its strategic pivot toward AI development. The company’s AI initiatives include the development of Llama 3, their next-generation large language model, and significant investments in computing infrastructure, including plans to acquire 350,000 H100 GPUs from Nvidia. Meta’s approach highlights the tech industry’s broader trend of balancing traditional operations with AI advancement, as companies compete for AI talent and capabilities. The restructuring emphasizes Meta’s commitment to maintaining competitiveness in the AI space while optimizing its workforce for future technological developments.

Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/meta-cutting-600-ai-jobs-continues-hire-superintelligence-126767711