Meta announces the layoff of 8,000 employees, representing 10% of the workforce, to streamline operations and invest in artificial intelligence.

Meta has announced that it will lay off approximately 8,000 employees, equivalent to 10% of its workforce, as part of a streamlining strategy and to allow for new investments in artificial intelligence. The company stated that it will leave about 6,000 job positions unfilled. On the same day, Microsoft announced that it will offer voluntary retirement plans for 8,750 employees in the U.S., representing 7% of its workforce. These measures come amid a transformation in the industry, which requires significant investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure. Meta warned that its expenses will increase significantly by 2026, reaching between $162 and $169 billion, primarily due to infrastructure costs and salaries for AI experts. Additionally, Meta has begun construction of an AI-optimized data center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with a $1 billion investment. Meta's shares fell by 2.3%, while Microsoft's shares dropped by 3.97% following these announcements.