Meta Platforms is preparing for another major round of layoffs, with nearly 8,000 employees expected to lose their jobs beginning May 20, 2026. The move would affect around 10% of the company’s global workforce and is expected to become Meta’s biggest job reduction since its “year of efficiency” in 2022 and 2023.
The planned layoffs are part of CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s strategy to transform Meta into an AI-first company. Over the last year, Meta has sharply increased spending on artificial intelligence, data centres and advanced computing infrastructure.
The company is reportedly planning to spend up to $135 billion in 2026 on AI-related projects, forcing it to cut costs in other areas of the business.
According to reports, the first round of job cuts will begin on May 20 and will remove around 8,000 positions across several departments. Additional layoffs are also expected later in the year, although Meta has not yet confirmed exactly how many more jobs could be cut.
Sources close to the company say that the final number may depend on how quickly Meta’s AI systems improve and how much work can be automated.
Meta currently employs nearly 79,000 people worldwide. The company owns platforms including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
Despite making more than $200 billion in revenue and around $60 billion in profit last year, Meta is still looking to reduce costs because AI investment is becoming increasingly expensive.