Meta Layoffs 2025: Facebook Parent Cuts 600 Jobs Amid Restructuring; Rs 1.2 Lakh Cr Investment in AI

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has announced a reduction of approximately 600 employees in its artificial intelligence (AI) division. The layoffs follow a significant investment by the company in building a team for its ambitious "AI Superintelligence" project.

Tech Layoffs 2025: Meta Announces Reduction of Around 600 Employees

The internal communication regarding the job cuts was circulated on October 22, according to a Bloomberg report. Meta's Chief AI Officer, Alexandr Wang, stated that the workforce reduction is intended to enhance individual responsibilities within the team while simplifying organizational processes.

"This is about optimizing how our teams operate, not about scaling back our AI ambitions," Wang reportedly said.

TBD Lab and Talent Retention Amid Meta Layoffs

Despite the layoffs, Meta's newly established TBD Lab remains unaffected. This division includes some of the company's highest-paid recruits and continues to play a central role in its AI initiatives. Meta has encouraged affected employees to explore opportunities in other departments, signaling that the company plans to continue selective hiring for critical AI roles.

Earlier reports from The Wall Street Journal noted that Meta had paused AI hiring in August. The company later clarified that this hiring freeze was part of routine organizational planning, rather than an indication of decreased investment in AI.

Meta's Financial Investments in AI and Talent Acquisition

Meta has invested heavily in artificial intelligence initiatives, including approximately Rs 1.2 lakh crore ($14.3 billion) in Scale AI, a data labelling startup led by Wang, aimed at advancing the company's AI superintelligence goals.

The company has also reportedly offered compensation packages as high as Rs 800 crore ($100 million) to attract top AI talent from competitors such as Apple, OpenAI and Anthropic. These aggressive hiring strategies underscore Meta's commitment to becoming a leader in AI technology.

Meta emphasises that the layoffs are part of a broader restructuring strategy rather than a retreat from its ambitious AI projects. The company maintains that its investments in AI remain robust and that these measures are designed to improve efficiency, focus resources on high-impact projects and strengthen the overall execution of its AI roadmap.