In a bold move to streamline¹ operations and embrace emerging technologies, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, announced plans to lay off thousands of employees—approximately 5% of its workforce²—while simultaneously³ shifting some roles to artificial intelligence (AI). The decision, outlined in an internal memo⁴ from CEO Mark Zuckerberg, comes as the company prepares for what it calls an “intense year” in 2025. The layoffs⁵, which will target low-performing employees, are part of a broader strategy to raise performance standards and reallocate resources toward AI-driven innovation. This marks Meta’s largest workforce reduction since it cut 21,000 jobs in 2022 and 2023.



Meta’s decision to cut 5% of its workforce—roughly 3,600 employees—is part of a broader effort to “raise the bar on performance management,” according to Zuckerberg. In his memo, he stated that the company typically manages out underperforming employees over the course of a year but will now expedite the process. Affected⁶ employees will be notified by February 10 and will receive “generous severance⁷” packages consistent with previous layoffs.

The move comes as Meta shifts some engineering roles to AI, a technology Zuckerberg believes will play a pivotal role in the company’s future. “Meta is working on building some of the most important technologies in the world. AI, glasses as the next computing⁸ platform, and the future of social media,” he wrote. While some roles will be eliminated, Meta plans to backfill certain positions later this year, particularly in high-priority areas like AI development.