Meta could be about to cut thousands more jobs

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16,000 workers reportedly at risk

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Mark Zuckerberg sta preparando il suo anti-iPhone (Image credit: Facebook)
  • 16,000 workers (20% of Meta's headcount) are expected to be at risk
  • Zuckerberg said "AI [will] dramatically change the way [Meta] works in 2026
  • 2023 was already Meta's "Year of Efficiency" – 10,000 workers lost their jobs

Meta is planning to cut as much as 20% of its workforce according to Reuters reporting – the equivalent of round 16,000 employees.

Although the company has not yet confirmed such a decision, reports indicate that managers have been asked to start preparing cost-cutting measures.

It's believed the workforce shift would largely be attributable to AI – Meta has already seen the impacts of artificial intelligence on efficiency, but the company has also shifted tack to focus more on AI tools than metaverse experiences.

Article continues below

Meta could be cutting 16,000 jobs, linked to AI push

CEO Mark Zuckerberg is publicly pushing generative AI within the company – the superintelligence team has also grown recently. Just days ago, it was confirmed that Facebook's parent company had acquired Moltbook, a social media platform exclusively for AI agents, with that company's leaders moving over to the Meta Superintelligence Labs division.

Meta also acquired AI firm Manus for around $2 billion in late 2025, gaining the attention of Chinese regulators.

Speaking during the company's Q4 2025 earnings call, CEO Mark Zuckerberg noted that "2026 is going to be the year that AI starts to dramatically change the way that we work." He also noted that Meta has already started to see internal shifts due to AI-driven efficiency.

Meta has already laid off many Reality Labs workers this year and around 3,600 workers this time last year. The company also declared 2023 to be the 'Year of Efficiency' – 10,000 workers lost their jobs as part of that announcement, but the company did promise to hire 5,000 workers into other roles.

A Meta spokesperson told TechRadar Pro: "This is a speculative report about theoretical approaches."

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Craig Hale
Craig Hale

With several years’ experience freelancing in tech and automotive circles, Craig’s specific interests lie in technology that is designed to better our lives, including AI and ML, productivity aids, and smart fitness. He is also passionate about cars and the decarbonisation of personal transportation. As an avid bargain-hunter, you can be sure that any deal Craig finds is top value!

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