Meta Cuts 600 AI Jobs Amid Billions in Superintelligence Investment

Meta is laying off approximately 600 employees from its AI Superintelligence Labs. The job cuts will take effect on November 21. This move impacts staff across the Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) lab, the AI product division, and the AI infrastructure team. The decision was communicated to employees in an internal memo.

The layoffs come despite the company’s massive, publicly stated financial commitment to artificial intelligence. According to Reuters, this creates a puzzling contrast between heavy investment and workforce reduction.

Details of the Meta AI Layoffs

According to CNBC, Chief AI Officer Alexandr Wang informed staff of the decision. Employees affected will enter a “non-working notice period” until their termination date. During this time, internal access will be revoked, and no work is required.

The company is offering a severance package to affected individuals. This includes 16 weeks of base pay plus two additional weeks for each year of service. The notice period will be deducted from this total compensation.

These cuts are part of a broader effort to streamline operations. A company representative told CNBC the goal is to “reduce layers and operate more nimbly.” The layoffs aim to improve efficiency despite the strategic focus on AI.

Meta’s Major AI Ambitions and Strategy

The layoffs appear counterintuitive given Meta’s aggressive AI push. CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a major restructuring in June. This led to the creation of the centralized AI Superintelligence Labs.

The company has invested billions to accelerate its AI capabilities. A significant portion of this investment, $14.3 billion, was used to acquire Scale AI, a company co-founded by Wang. This acquisition was a key part of their strategy.

The push is also a response to market competition. Reports suggest the lukewarm reception of Meta’s Llama 4 AI models in April prompted this renewed and heavily funded focus. The company is bringing in external expertise, like GitHub’s former CEO, to bolster its efforts.

The recent Meta AI layoffs highlight the complex and often turbulent nature of the tech industry’s race for artificial intelligence dominance, even for the world’s largest companies.

Thought you’d like to know

Which Meta departments are affected by the layoffs?

The job cuts impact the Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) lab, the AI product division, and the AI infrastructure team. These are all core components of the company’s AI Superintelligence Labs.

How much severance are the laid-off employees receiving?

Affected workers will get 16 weeks of base pay. They will also receive two additional weeks of pay for each full year they worked at the company.

Why is Meta laying off AI staff while investing heavily in AI?

The company states it needs to operate more nimbly. This restructuring aims to streamline layers of management and refocus its AI talent on top priorities despite the large financial investments.

What was Meta’s $14.3 billion AI investment?

That sum was used to acquire Scale AI, a data annotation company. Scale AI was co-founded by Meta’s current Chief AI Officer, Alexandr Wang.

When do the Meta AI layoffs take effect?

The official termination date for the 600 employees is November 21, 2025. They are currently in a non-working notice period until that date.