By Abubakar Yunusa
Meta Platforms Inc. is reportedly considering sweeping layoffs that could affect 20 percent (or more) of its workforce to offset the rising cost of artificial intelligence infrastructure and improve efficiency.
According to a report by Reuters on Sunday, three sources familiar with the matter said top executives have recently informed senior leaders to begin planning on how to reduce staff as the company adjusts its operations to a future shaped by AI-assisted work.
The sources, however, said no timeline has been set for the potential layoffs, noting that the final scale of the cuts has not been determined.
Responding to questions about the report, Andy Stone, spokesperson for Meta, told Reuters that the claims were speculative.
“This is speculative reporting about theoretical approaches,” Stone said.
According to the report, if the company proceeds with cuts of around 20 percent, it would mark the largest workforce reduction since Meta undertook a major restructuring in 2022 and 2023.
Meta employed nearly 79,000 workers as of December 31, according to its latest regulatory filing.
In June 2025, the micro-blogging platform said it was planning to fully automate its advertising process using AI by the end of 2026.
Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Meta, had said businesses needed AI solutions that deliver “measurable results at scale”.
He added that the company is building an AI one-stop shop where advertisers can set goals, input budgets and allow the platform to handle delivery logistics.
In January 2025, Meta announced plans to lay off approximately 5 percent of its workforce due to poor performance.
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