News Desk: Meta has begun laying off nearly 8,000 employees worldwide as CEO Mark Zuckerberg pushes the company deeper into artificial intelligence and automation, marking one of the tech giant’s largest workforce reductions since its “Year of Efficiency” cuts in 2022–23.

According to multiple international reports, the layoffs affect roughly 10% of Meta’s global workforce and are part of a sweeping restructuring plan aimed at redirecting resources toward AI infrastructure, machine learning systems and next-generation digital products.

The job cuts reportedly began in Singapore before extending to Europe and the United States. Employees were informed through early-morning emails, with many teams instructed to work remotely during the notification process. Reports say Meta is simultaneously reassigning around 7,000 employees into AI-focused divisions as the company reshapes its internal structure around artificial intelligence.

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The restructuring comes amid Meta’s enormous AI spending spree. The company is projected to spend between $125 billion and $145 billion in capital expenditure in 2026, largely on AI data centres, custom chips and advanced computing infrastructure.

Reports indicate that engineering, product and management roles are among the hardest hit as Meta attempts to create a leaner corporate structure with fewer layers of management. Internal memos cited by Reuters and other outlets suggest the company wants faster decision-making and more AI-driven workflows across its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

Meta 4 am layoff shock: Work-from-home under fire in AI job cuts era

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The layoffs have also triggered emotional reactions online. Several affected employees shared posts describing the sudden termination process, with some saying they received layoff emails just hours after completing routine work assignments. One employee based in Singapore wrote that he had spent nearly a decade at Meta and was laid off a day after training a new engineer.

Despite the large-scale cuts, Meta remains one of the world’s most profitable technology companies. Reports say the company generated more than $200 billion in revenue and over $60 billion in net income last year. However, analysts believe the explosive race for AI dominance is forcing major tech firms to aggressively redirect spending toward infrastructure and automation.

The latest restructuring reflects a broader shift across Silicon Valley, where companies including Microsoft, Amazon and Google are also reducing traditional workforce roles while investing billions into AI systems and cloud computing.