Meta Explored 60% Team Cuts to Build 'AI Native' Workforce

Meta Platforms explored dramatically reshaping its workforce by reducing some teams by as much as 60% in an effort to become what the company termed "AI native," according to internal documents obtained by Reuters.

The plan called for two waves of cuts designed to automate routine work with artificial intelligence and create what executives described as more "talent-dense" teams. The strategy represented one of the most aggressive workforce transformation proposals yet from a major technology company seeking to integrate AI throughout its operations.

Staff Revolt Derails Full Plan

The proposal triggered immediate resistance from Meta employees. Hours before a major company event, staff pushback grew intense enough that leadership reconsidered the scope of the restructuring. While Meta proceeded with a partial round of layoffs, the company canceled plans for the second wave of cuts originally outlined in the documents.

The episode highlights the tension technology companies face as they attempt to balance AI-driven efficiency gains against workforce stability and employee morale. Meta has not publicly disclosed which specific teams were targeted or how many positions were ultimately eliminated in the initial round.

Why It Matters

Meta's aborted restructuring plan offers a window into how leading technology companies are wrestling with AI's impact on their own operations. The 60% reduction figure represents an unusually aggressive target that suggests executives believe AI tools can replace a substantial portion of current human work. The employee revolt and subsequent retreat, however, demonstrate that even companies at the forefront of AI development face significant organizational constraints when attempting to implement such transformations. For business leaders considering similar AI-driven workforce changes, Meta's experience suggests that the technical capability to automate work may arrive faster than organizations can manage the resulting disruption.

Uncertainty Remains

Meta has not provided clarity on whether additional restructuring remains under consideration or which divisions might face future changes. The internal documents reviewed by Reuters did not specify the criteria used to identify teams for potential reduction, leaving questions about how the company evaluated which roles could be automated or consolidated.

The situation at Meta reflects broader industry trends as technology companies race to demonstrate AI capabilities while managing the operational and human implications of deploying those tools internally. Several major tech firms have announced workforce reductions over the past two years, though few have explicitly tied cuts to AI automation at the scale Meta reportedly considered.

These details were first reported by Reuters based on internal Meta documents.