Meta Lays Off 600 From ‘Bloated’ AI Unit as Alexandr Wang Takes Charge

Menlo Park, California: Meta is cutting about 600 jobs from its artificial intelligence division as part of a wider restructuring to streamline operations and reinforce Chief AI Officer Alexandr Wang’s leadership over the company’s AI strategy.

The layoffs, confirmed by a company spokesperson, affect employees across Meta’s AI infrastructure, Fundamental AI Research (FAIR), and other product-focused teams. The cuts exclude staff within TBD Labs, a newer division that includes many of Meta’s high-profile AI hires and now forms part of Meta Superintelligence Labs, the company’s flagship AI group led by Wang and former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman.

Sources told CNBC that Meta’s AI department had become “bloated”, with multiple teams competing for computing resources. The restructuring aims to consolidate operations, reduce internal overlap, and give Wang greater control over AI development.

In an internal memo, Meta told affected workers their last day would be November 21, placing them on a non-working notice period until then. Employees will receive 16 weeks of severance pay, plus two additional weeks per year of service.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been reshaping Meta’s AI roadmap following muted feedback to its Llama 4 model released in April. The company has since invested $14.3 billion in Scale AI, rebranded its top research arm into Meta Superintelligence Labs, and is now focusing on infrastructure expansion, including a $27 billion partnership with Blue Owl Capital to build its Hyperion data center in Louisiana.

Following the layoffs, Meta’s Superintelligence Labs now employ just under 3,000 staff, people familiar with the matter said.

During Meta’s last earnings call, executives projected total 2025 expenses between $114 billion and $118 billion, noting that AI-related costs will continue rising into 2026. The company reports its third-quarter results next week.