Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has eliminated 600 jobs in its AI division, US media reported. The company confirmed on Wednesday that it will remove these positions while still expanding its superintelligence lab.
Axios revealed that the cuts will strike Meta’s Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) group, product-related AI teams, and AI infrastructure units. Meta’s newer TBD Lab will remain untouched.
Company Encourages Internal Transfers
Chief AI Officer Alexandr Wang sent a memo urging affected staff to apply for other roles within Meta. Axios reported that most displaced workers are expected to secure new internal positions.
Wang explained that downsizing will simplify decision-making and expand the influence of remaining employees. He stated that fewer conversations will speed decisions and increase each person’s impact.
Meta’s Distinct AI Path
Meta continues to recruit for TBD Lab, which develops the company’s next-generation large language models (LLMs). These models power systems like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Meta’s own Llama.
Unlike its rivals, Meta offers Llama as a semi-open-source tool, allowing users to access and modify key elements. The company claims over one billion people engage with its AI products monthly. However, many observers still view Meta as trailing behind OpenAI and Google in promoting consumer adoption of LLMs.
