Mark Zuckerberg to Axe 10 Percent of Meta’s Workforce in May as AI Bloodbath Deepens
Meta plans to cut about 8,000 jobs next month, roughly 10 pereccent of its workforce, as it ramps up investment in artificial intelligence.
According to Reuters, the layoffs are expected to begin around May 20, with further cuts likely later this year. The scale and timing of additional reductions have not been finalized.
The job cuts come as CEO Mark Zuckerberg seeks to embrace the benefits of AI.
📊 Financial News: Meta to cut 8,000 jobs, 10% of workforce, starting next month pic.twitter.com/AA1MQy5pRH
— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) April 18, 2026
Meta has reportedly set aside about $135 billion in capital spending this year as it looks to compete with rivals including OpenAI and Anthropic.
Last month, Reuters reported that Meta could cut more than 20 percent of its workforce this year, potentially affecting around 15,000 employees.
That would mark the company’s largest round of layoffs since 2022 and 2023, when more than 20,000 jobs were eliminated during its “year of efficiency.”
A Meta spokesperson previously described the earlier Reuters report as a “speculative report about theoretical approaches.”
The company had nearly 79,000 employees worldwide at the end of 2025, according to filings.
In an interview last month, Zuckerberg suggested that AI will somehow force companies to hire more people.
“I actually think we’re probably going to go hire more customer support people,” he said at the time.
Mark Zuckerberg just argued that AI will force companies to hire more people.
Not fewer.
Three and a half billion people use Meta every day.
Not one of them has a phone number to call.
Mark Zuckerberg: “It’s clearly just going to automate jobs and like all these jobs are… pic.twitter.com/9b1CKnIhhs
— Dustin (@r0ck3t23) March 31, 2026
The cuts follow similar moves across the tech sector as companies shift toward AI.
Snap recently eliminated about 1,000 jobs, while financial firm Block said it would cut more than 4,000 roles.
“Within the next year, I believe the majority of companies will reach the same conclusion and make similar structural changes,” Block CEO Jack Dorsey wrote in an open letter.
”I’d rather get there honestly and on our own terms than be forced into it reactively.”
Jack Dorsey is one of the greatest entrepreneurs of our era, also above average as a person. The AI revolution is here.
Block is up 25% after news of the mass layoffs.
Activist investors will demand all tech companies do this. pic.twitter.com/VZrR8yarMe
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) February 26, 2026
Meta shares rose about 2 percent in Friday trading following the report.
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