Alexandr Wang, Meta’s Chief AI Officer, informed staff via a memo that the company plans to eliminate approximately 600 positions from its superintelligence lab, as reported by Axios.
While Meta has opted not to provide further comment, they did confirm to TechCrunch that Axios’s report is accurate.
In an environment where Meta, OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and other tech leaders are fiercely competing to develop advanced AI systems, this summer marked an active hiring period for Meta. The company acquired over 50 researchers from rival firms by offering lucrative compensation packages. However, OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, asserted that “none of [OpenAI’s] best people” accepted these offers.
“By reducing the size of our team, fewer conversations will be required to make a decision, and each individual will have greater responsibilities, influence, and impact,” Wang noted in his memo to employees.
This rationale aligns with Meta’s ongoing strategy of a “year of efficiency,” which subtly refers to the company’s recent significant layoffs. During the announcement, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized that “leaner is better.”
Interestingly, it appears that Meta is not drastically reducing its overall workforce but instead restructuring its operations. The company has indicated that most affected employees should be able to explore other job opportunities within Meta.
