New Delhi, 4 Apr, (CXO Media): Meta has initiated another round of layoffs in California as it continues restructuring operations around artificial intelligence priorities.
The parent company of Meta Platforms is eliminating nearly 200 positions across two California locations, according to official filings with the state’s employment authorities. The layoffs include 124 roles in Burlingame and 74 roles in Sunnyvale, with the job cuts scheduled to take effect in late May. The company has classified these layoffs as permanent, indicating sustained organisational restructuring rather than temporary adjustments.
This development adds to multiple workforce reductions carried out by the company earlier in 2026. In March, Meta cut approximately 700 roles across recruiting, sales, and operations functions. In January, the company reduced about 1,500 positions in its Reality Labs division, which focuses on virtual and augmented reality technologies. The repeated reductions across business units reflect a broader realignment of workforce priorities toward emerging technology segments.
Chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has identified 2026 as a key year for expanding artificial intelligence adoption across Meta’s platforms and internal systems. The company is reorganising teams and integrating AI-driven tools to automate workflows and increase operational efficiency. Industry observers note that such restructuring trends are increasingly visible across major technology firms investing heavily in AI capabilities.
Meta has projected capital expenditure between $115 billion and $135 billion for 2026, with a substantial share allocated to AI infrastructure, including data centres and high-performance computing systems. Operating costs are also expected to rise as the company continues hiring specialised engineers and technical professionals in priority areas, even while reducing roles in other functions.
Despite ongoing layoffs, Meta has stated that hiring remains active for roles considered critical to its long-term technology strategy. Some affected employees are being offered opportunities to apply for other internal roles, although relocation requirements may apply in certain cases.
Meta reported a total workforce of approximately 79,000 employees at the end of 2025. The company previously conducted one of its largest workforce reductions in November 2022, when it laid off around 11,000 employees. Recent external reports suggesting the possibility of further large-scale workforce cuts have circulated, but Meta has described such claims as speculative and stated that no final decisions on additional reductions have been confirmed.
