US EditionMeta CEO Zuckerberg blames layoffs on capital spending, won't rule out more job cuts
Mark Zuckerberg said the cuts are tied to higher AI infrastructure spending as Meta doubles capital expenditures to $125 billion to $145 billion.
- Meta reported $56.3 billion in first-quarter 2026 revenue as ad sales surged, yet announced plans to lay off 8,000 staffers—about 10% of its workforce—in May and close 6,000 open roles.
- Massive investments in AI prompted Meta to streamline teams and improve efficiency. CFO Susan Li stated 2026 capital spending will reach $125 billion to $145 billion, increased from the prior $115 billion to $135 billion range.
- Overall, Meta reported 3.56 billion daily active users for March 2026, up 4% year-over-year. However, the European Commission preliminarily found Facebook and Instagram in breach of the Digital Services Act for failing to protect minors under 13.
- Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg pushed back on concerns that AI would cause mass unemployment, stating, "AI isn't going to replace people." He argued AI amplifies human ability, enabling smaller teams to build faster.
- During Wednesday's earnings call, CFO Susan Li admitted she "doesn't really know" the company's ideal headcount amid rapid AI advancement. This uncertainty mirrors broader industry pressure, with Microsoft and Block also shrinking workforces recently.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Meta CEO Zuckerberg blames layoffs on capital spending, won't rule out more job cuts
Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg attributed the Facebook parent's planned layoffs to increased capital spending for AI, and declined to rule out further job cuts, in comments to employees at a company town hall on Thursday.
Fox Business
The New York LedgerZuckerberg says Meta layoffs tied to AI spending, won't rule out future cuts
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says the company's latest round of roughly 8,000 layoffs is driven by increased AI infrastructure spending, not its shift toward an AI-native structure.
Meta says it doesn't know its ideal size as it prepares to lay off 10% of its staff
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.Bloomberg/Getty ImagesMeta publicly addressed next month's layoffs during Wednesday's earnings call.CFO Susan Li said Meta is committed to operating efficiently amid record AI spending.Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said AI isn't going to replace humans, just amplify them.As Meta employees brace for layoffs next month, the big question is how many humans it actually needs in the age of AI.In a telling moment during Wednesday's…
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