Meta Platforms has commenced job cuts, notifying thousands of employees via email as part of its ongoing drive for efficiency and AI competitiveness. The company is reducing its workforce by 5%, affecting as many as 3,600 staff members, primarily those deemed underperformers. US-based employees will receive severance packages that include 16 weeks of salary, with an additional two weeks for each year of service. Eligible employees will still receive performance bonuses and stock awards from the upcoming vesting cycle.

The layoffs align with CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s strategy to streamline operations while reallocating resources toward artificial intelligence. In January, Zuckerberg announced that the job cuts would be completed by the end of the current performance cycle, with US employees notified on 10 February, while international notifications would follow later. He emphasised that reducing headcount would create space to hire high-performing talent, crucial for the company’s ambitious AI goals.

Meta has experienced multiple rounds of job cuts since 2022 as part of its broader efficiency initiative. The company is actively competing with industry players like OpenAI and DeepSeek, with plans to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in AI infrastructure. These investments will support innovations across Meta’s platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and virtual reality applications.

The restructuring reflects Meta’s strategic pivot towards AI as a core driver of future growth, amidst intensifying competition in the tech industry.