The US technology group Meta Platforms is apparently once again facing a profound restructuring of its organization – due to AI.
• Meta is planning big Job cuts
• Less staff, more infrastructure
• Greater focus on AI
With Facebook parent Meta, the next big US technology company is apparently preparing a large-scale Stellan mining. According to information from “Reuters”, a first wave of layoffs is expected to begin on May 20, 2026, which is expected to affect around ten percent of the global workforce – that would be around 8,000 jobs. Further cuts are likely over the course of the year.
The company had already cut around 21,000 jobs in 2022 and 2023 as part of a so-called efficiency program. The current round is considered the biggest adjustment since this phase – albeit under significantly better economic conditions.
Efficiency program without a crisis
Meta recently continued to generate sales of over $200 billion and profits in the double-digit billion range. The current cuts are not due to financial necessity, but rather as part of an organizational streamlining and strategic shift in focus.
The central driver of the current cuts is the massive expansion of AI capacities. Meta plans to invest up to $135 billion in data centers, chips and infrastructure by 2026. This means that the capital investment would almost double compared to 2025. The numbers illustrate a structural shift within the industry. While human resources used to be the main growth driver, today computing power is taking center stage. AI models require enormous amounts of data, specialized hardware and global infrastructure – investments that can only partially be realized in parallel with increasing employee numbers.
In addition to the technological transformation, Meta also pursues an organizational goal: leaner decision-making structures. According to “Reuters”, internal plans envisage fewer management levels and more AI-supported work processes. Teams should be merged or realigned, especially in areas with indirect value creation or high automation.
Overall, the planned step signals a fundamental change in the self-image of large platform companies: In the future, productivity will come more from AI, software automation and data-driven systems than from staff growth.
AI as an organizing principle – not just as a product
The job cuts should therefore be understood less as an austerity program than as part of a comprehensive transition to an “AI-first” organization. According to the “Reuters” report, Meta is currently setting up new internal units that are explicitly concerned with the application of generative AI in business processes. At the same time, structures are being created for new business areas around AI-based services.
The company is thus following a pattern that can increasingly be observed across the entire industry: According to industry analyses, more than 73,000 jobs in the technology sector have been cut worldwide in 2026 alone – often in parallel with increasing AI budgets.
This is how the meta share reacts
Meta shares closed Friday trading on the NASDAQ with a gain of 1.73 percent to $688.55. After trading, the stock fell slightly by 0.23 percent to $686.99.
Carolin Ludwig, editorial team at finanzen.net
By the way: Meta Platforms (ex Facebook) and other US stocks can even be traded on finanzen.net ZERO until 11 p.m. (without order fees, plus spreads). Open a depot now for free and secure a new customer bonus!
Selected leverage products on Meta Platforms (ex Facebook)
With knock-outs, speculative investors can participate disproportionately in price movements. Simply select the lever you want and we will show you suitable open-end products on Meta Platforms (ex Facebook)
The leverage must be between 2 and 20
Advertising
Image sources: Valeriya Zankovych / Shutterstock.com, mundissima / Shutterstock.com
