Meta to Lay Off 8,000 Employees as AI Shift Accelerates

Kathmandu. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is preparing to lay off approximately 8,000 employees by next month. According to a Reuters report, this accounts for nearly 10 percent of Meta's total global workforce.

According to the report, the first phase of layoffs will begin on May 20. The company plans to implement further staff reductions in the second half of the year, though specific dates and numbers have not yet been finalized.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg has taken this step to pivot Meta toward Artificial Intelligence (AI) and improve operational efficiency. As many tasks become automated with the development of AI, the company has adopted a strategy to achieve greater results with fewer employees.

This year, not only Meta but other major tech companies like Amazon and Block have also cut thousands of jobs, citing increased efficiency due to AI.

According to data, more than 73,000 employees in the global tech sector have lost their jobs in the first four months of 2026. Meta currently employs approximately 79,000 people. at Meta