Meta Cuts 600 Jobs from AI Division to Streamline Operations Amid Leadership Changes

Meta said more people are getting fired around 600 workers from their computer brain division. This action seems like the biggest shake-up in Meta’s brainy work area ever since Alexandr Wang, the main AI guy, showed up this year.

The firing happens as the boss, Mark Zuckerberg, aims to make Meta’s brain teams skinnier and faster. Meta’s brain section got big and messy lately, with groups fighting for stuff and where to go. These fires mean the company wants an easier setup and stronger power for Wang over its brain plan.

Wang is Getting More Powerful

Alexandr Wang, who came to Meta in June after the company spent $14.3 billion on his old biz, Scale AI, is now a big shot there. His coming showed Zuckerberg wants to fix Meta’s brain skills and keep up with rivals like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft.

Wang’s power can be seen now. The fires didn’t touch the new TBD Labs, led by Wang and full of Meta’s priciest brain experts. It hints that Zuckerberg likes Wang’s new workers and ideas, while cutting older teams in Meta’s brain work for years.

By putting money on Wang’s team, Meta thinks a smaller, quicker group of great minds can make faster steps in building future computer brain systems.

Why the Cuts Had to Happen

At Meta, folks thought the AI group was puffy, like a marshmallow. Teams such as FAIR and those on products sometimes did similar stuff and fought for computer space. This got weirder when Meta made Superintelligence Labs, mixing eggheads and builders from all over.

The change was to stop copies and put all AI stuff under one boss, such as Wang. The job cuts hurt folks, but they should cut fights and let the company zoom faster in the wild AI race.

Zuckerberg’s Sadness and the Rush for Wins

Mark Zuckerberg talked a lot about wanting Meta to lead in AI. But, folks inside say he got sad about the slow steps earlier this year. Meta’s Llama 4 models in April didn’t make as much noise as OpenAI’s GPT or Google’s Gemini things got.

This made Zuckerberg do more stuff. By snagging Wang and ex-GitHub head Nat Friedman to run the new Meta Superintelligence Labs, he wished to add new bosses and a faster beat to the company’s AI plan.

The new job cuts show Zuckerberg wants to dump stuff he thinks isn’t needed and zoom in on doing things.

Facts of the Job Cuts

Workers hit by the cuts learned about it on Wednesday. According to inside talks seen by CNBC, their last day is November 21. Until then, those staff are in a chilling out time, meaning they still get money but don’t need to work.

Meta gave sixteen weeks’ pay, plus an added two weeks for each year worked, not counting the notice time. Workers were told that they could use this time to seek other jobs in Meta, yet jobs may be few because of changes.

After the job cuts, Meta’s AI Labs now the firm’s top AI group will have a bit under 3,000 workers.

A Plan to Shift

The changes are not just to lower costs. It is part of a wide plan to shift Meta’s AI goals to real, big systems that can power its users and business items.

Meta has put lots of money into data sites, tools, and tech to help its AI dreams. The firm just said it would pay $27 billion to Blue Owl Capital to fund its big Hyperion data site in Louisiana. The site may be so big it could “fill a good part of Manhattan,” per Zuckerberg.

These plans show how much Meta cares about AI and how much it will pay to fight other tech giants.

Money Worries and Costs

Meta’s AI spend has been huge and keeps going up. In the firm’s July call, chiefs said total costs for 2025 would be between $114 and $118 billion more than they thought. They noted that spend would keep growing in 2026, mostly due to the firm’s AI work.

Those who put money in are watching to see if this pays off. With AI set to change all from media rules to ads and the web world, Meta’s win in this area may shape its future. Yet, big expenses and shifts make things feel shaky. Some experts fear that too many cuts may hurt new ideas, while some feel the firm is now building the right, strict base its needs for wins.

A Wider View

The AI world is in a tough fight for talent, with giants like Meta, OpenAI, and Google always fighting to get the best minds. Meta has been busy grabbing big names from rivals, like some from Apple earlier in the year.

These actions tell us Zuckerberg wants Meta to be seen not just as a social media place, but as a big AI player. The recent job cuts may sting now, but they also show the firm is changing to back this new image.

By trusting Alexandr Wang and putting groups under him, Meta hopes it can move faster, come up with better ideas, and get back its spot as an AI leader.

What’s Next

Meta will share its third-quarter profits soon. Those who invest and study firms will watch for news on the firm’s AI path, cost setup, and work on projects like Superintelligence Labs and Hyperion.

Right now, Meta’s message is plain: the firm is cutting extras, making its base simpler, and giving its future to new leaders. Alexandr Wang’s job will be key in seeing if these brave actions help Meta beat its rivals or cause more storms inside a huge tech firm.

The coming days will show if Meta’s bet on a tighter, more set AI plan will bring the wins Zuckerberg wants or if the firm’s issues are worse than just leaders and base alone.