Meta Cuts Hundreds of Jobs in Legacy AI Research Division
Key Points
- Meta will cut roughly 600 positions in its FAIR and AI product/infrastructure divisions.
- The layoffs are part of a shift toward a new superintelligence team called TBD Lab.
- Meta spokesperson Ana Brekalo confirmed the accuracy of the reports.
- Earlier AI hiring surge included a $14.3 billion investment in Scale AI.
- FAIR leader Joelle Pineau left the company earlier this year.
- Alexandr Wang said FAIR’s research will be integrated into TBD Lab’s larger models.
- Affected employees may apply for other internal roles.
- The restructuring aims to create a leaner decision‑making structure.
- Meta’s move reflects a broader industry trend of recalibrating AI investments.
Meta is eliminating roughly 600 positions within its legacy artificial intelligence research units, including the Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) team and its AI product and infrastructure division. The move comes as the company redirects resources toward a newly created superintelligence effort called TBD Lab, while still allowing affected employees to apply for internal openings. The restructuring follows a brief hiring surge earlier in the year, and reflects Meta’s shift toward integrating FAIR’s research into larger model operations overseen by TBD Lab.
Meta Announces Large‑Scale Layoffs in AI Research
Meta confirmed that it will cut approximately 600 roles across its legacy artificial intelligence research operations. The reductions primarily target the Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) group and the AI product and infrastructure division, both of which have been central to the company’s long‑term AI strategy.
Shift Toward a Superintelligence Initiative
While downsizing these established units, Meta is simultaneously building a new superintelligence team known as TBD Lab. The company’s spokesperson, Ana Brekalo, told The Verge that the reports of the layoffs are accurate and that the organization intends to focus its AI resources on the TBD Lab effort.
Background: A Brief Hiring Surge Followed by Re‑evaluation
Earlier this year, Meta launched an aggressive AI hiring campaign after investing $14.3 billion in Scale AI and bringing on Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang. The hiring wave was short‑lived; a few months later Meta paused new hires and announced a restructuring aimed at concentrating on AI‑related products and infrastructure.
Leadership Changes and Strategic Realignment
The FAIR division has seen notable leadership turnover, with its head Joelle Pineau departing earlier in the year. In August, Meta AI chief Alexandr Wang said the company would “integrate and scale many of the research ideas and projects from FAIR into the larger model runs conducted by TBD Lab.” This statement underscores the strategic intent to fold FAIR’s research outputs into the broader, more centralized AI initiatives.
Impact on Employees and Internal Mobility
Meta plans to allow impacted staff to apply for other roles within the company. The reduction is framed as a move to create a leaner decision‑making structure, giving each remaining employee a larger scope and greater impact. Wang described the change in an internal memo as reducing the number of conversations needed for decisions and making each team member more “load‑bearing.”
Industry Context and Outlook
The layoffs arrive amid a broader industry trend of large tech firms recalibrating AI investments after periods of rapid expansion. Meta’s pivot toward a concentrated superintelligence effort reflects its belief that a focused, integrated approach will better position the company to compete in the fast‑evolving AI landscape.
Overall, the restructuring signals Meta’s commitment to streamline its AI research pipeline, leverage existing breakthroughs from FAIR, and accelerate development within the newly established TBD Lab.