Meta Slashes 8,000 Jobs as It Redirects Billions Toward AI Ambitions

Meta is slashing 8,000 jobs — 10% of its workforce — this week as it redirects billions toward AI, raising capital expenditure guidance to as high as $145 billion for 2026, while internal morale crumbles amid layoff fears and controversial employee tracking tools.

• Meta is beginning a new round of layoffs this week, cutting approximately 8,000 jobs, or about 10% of its workforce, with additional rounds potentially coming in August and later in the fall.
• The cuts are being framed not as a mistake but as a strategic move to fund massive AI investments, with capital expenditure guidance raised by up to $10 billion, reaching as high as $145 billion for 2026.
• Internal morale is plummeting, with employee ratings on Blind dropping 25% from a 2024 peak, as workers express fear and frustration over job losses, a controversial AI-powered employee tracking tool, and uncertainty about the company's direction.