The wave of layoffs in the global technology sector continues as major companies restructure operations to focus more heavily on artificial intelligence. Social media giant Meta and professional networking platform LinkedIn have both announced fresh job cuts as part of broader organisational changes linked to AI investments and efficiency measures.
According to recent reports, Meta is carrying out a major restructuring exercise that could impact nearly 10 percent of its workforce. The company is expected to lay off around 8,000 employees while simultaneously transferring nearly 7,000 workers into AI-focused teams and projects.
The restructuring is part of CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s aggressive push to strengthen Meta’s position in the rapidly growing AI industry. Reports suggest the company is creating multiple AI-focused divisions to improve engineering productivity and accelerate development of advanced AI systems across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
Meta executives have said the move is aimed at making the company “more efficient” while allowing it to increase spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure. The company is reportedly planning to spend over $125 billion on AI-related projects in 2026.
Meanwhile, LinkedIn, which is owned by Microsoft, has also announced layoffs affecting more than 600 employees. Reports indicate that 606 workers will lose their jobs as the company restructures operations and shifts resources toward high-growth business areas.
The latest cuts add to growing concerns over the impact of AI on employment across the tech sector. Several companies including Amazon, Block and Cloudflare have also reduced staff this year while increasing automation and AI adoption. Industry trackers estimate that more than 100,000 tech jobs have already been cut globally in 2026.
Despite the layoffs, companies continue to defend their AI investments, arguing that automation and AI tools will improve productivity and help businesses remain competitive. However, employees and labour groups have raised concerns about job security and the increasing pressure on workers as companies rapidly shift toward AI-driven operations.
