Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, has officially begun a fresh round of company-wide layoffs, with thousands of employees bracing for job cuts. According to a report, affected workers will receive notifications starting at 5 AM PST today. Internal memos indicate that while Meta is reducing its workforce, it is simultaneously ramping up the hiring of machine learning engineers to strengthen its artificial intelligence capabilities.
These layoffs will impact multiple countries, including the United States, but will exclude employees in Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands due to strict local labour laws. Workers in other regions across Europe, Asia and Africa will be notified between February 11 and February 18. Unlike previous layoffs, Meta will keep its offices open on Monday and has provided little information about how employees were selected for termination. A memo from Janelle Gale, Meta’s Head of People, confirmed that no additional details would be shared internally.
Meta had previously announced plans to cut approximately 5% of its workforce, specifically targeting “lowest performers”. Some of these roles will later be refilled but the company is branding these layoffs as “performance terminations,” a term first reported by a leading publication.
At the same time, Meta is aggressively hiring for AI-driven positions. In a separate memo, Peng Fan, Meta’s VP of Engineering for Monetization, urged employees to expedite the hiring of machine learning engineers and other crucial technical roles. This hiring push will take place between February 11 and March 13, signaling a shift in Meta’s focus toward automation and AI-driven development.
The layoffs at Meta are part of a broader downsizing trend among tech giants in 2025. Google recently introduced a voluntary exit program for employees in its Platforms and Devices division, which includes teams within Android and Pixel. This move follows a major restructuring last year, with Google stating that it wants its teams to be more focused on building innovative products efficiently.
Microsoft has also ramped up performance-based layoffs, reportedly letting go of employees who failed to meet expectations. Some reports claim that certain employees were dismissed without severance pay and their healthcare benefits were immediately cut off. Meanwhile, Amazon has slashed around 200 positions in its fashion and fitness divisions as part of its strategy to streamline operations and boost efficiency within its North American stores team.
With Meta, Google, Microsoft and Amazon all aggressively cutting jobs while shifting focus toward AI and automation, the tech industry is undergoing a seismic transformation. While thousands are being pushed out of their roles, companies are simultaneously investing in artificial intelligence, signaling that the future of Big Tech may rely more on machines than human workers.
If the future belongs to AI, then what will humans do?
