Meta Announces 8,000 Job Cuts in May Amid Record $115–135 Billion AI Infrastructure Push

Meta is preparing to lay off approximately 10 percent of its workforce in May, a decision that will affect around 8,000 employees, according to an internal memo from Chief People Officer Janelle Gale published by Bloomberg. The company will simultaneously close roughly 6,000 open positions. The announcement arrives as Meta accelerates its AI expansion, with capital expenditure projections revealing a dramatic strategic reorientation toward artificial intelligence infrastructure.

The memo outlines the workforce reduction as part of a broader operational recalibration. In January, Meta forecast capital expenditures of $115 billion to $135 billion for 2026, representing a substantial increase from the $72.22 billion spent in 2025. This surge in spending is directed toward building and expanding data centers, acquiring specialized AI talent, and developing the computational foundation required to compete in an increasingly AI-driven technology landscape. The decision to cut current staff while expanding open roles in AI-related functions underscores a deliberate shift in how the company is structuring its human capital against its technological ambitions.

The layoffs highlight mounting pressure on major technology firms to demonstrate efficiency gains from AI investments while managing legacy workforces. Meta's approach reflects a broader industry pattern in which automation and infrastructure automation are positioned as long-term cost offsets, even as near-term workforce reductions generate significant disruption. The company faces continued scrutiny from investors and employees as it balances aggressive AI spending against workforce stability in a competitive labor market.