Meta Platforms has laid off approximately 600 employees from its artificial intelligence (AI) division, marking a major reorganization within the company’s Superintelligence Labs as it seeks to speed up innovation and remain competitive in the global AI race.

According to an internal memo, the cuts targeted parts of Meta’s sprawling AI department, which employs roughly 3,000 staff members. The company described the move as a step toward efficiency rather than a retreat from AI development.

Zuckerberg Restructures AI Ambitions

Meta’s Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg has spent recent months on an aggressive recruitment campaign to strengthen the company’s AI leadership. Earlier this year, he appointed Alexandr Wang, co-founder of ScaleAI, as the new Chief AI Officer, giving him broad authority over Meta’s most ambitious AI projects.

Sources familiar with the matter say the layoffs were designed to eliminate overlap and accelerate decision-making within the division.

“By reducing the size of our team, fewer conversations will be required to make a decision, and each person will have more scope and impact,” Mr. Wang wrote in an internal memo to employees.

The layoffs, first reported by Axios, reflect Meta’s efforts to move faster in a market where OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft have surged ahead with generative AI tools and large language models.

Meta’s AI Efforts Face Pressure

Meta—owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—was among the early leaders in artificial intelligence with its Llama open-source model, but insiders say progress slowed after a rapid expansion created operational inefficiencies.

In June, Zuckerberg invested $14.3 billion in ScaleAI and brought over top engineers to strengthen Meta’s Superintelligence Labs. He has also continued to lure leading AI researchers from rival companies, offering multimillion-dollar compensation packages to build a world-class research team.

Four Core AI Units After Restructuring

In August, Meta reorganized its Superintelligence division into four main branches:

1. FAIR (Fundamental AI Research) – focused on long-term scientific research.
2. Superintelligence – dedicated to building advanced AI systems.
3. Product – integrating AI tools across Meta’s platforms.
4. Infrastructure – managing hardware, data centers, and computing power.

The recent layoffs affected FAIR, Product, and Infrastructure, but spared the Superintelligence team led by Mr. Wang. Meta said it will help displaced employees find new positions within the company.

Meta Blocks ChatGPT Access on WhatsApp

In a related update, Meta announced plans to cut off access to third-party chatbots—including OpenAI’s ChatGPT—on WhatsApp starting in 2026. The company said the move aims to prevent misuse of its business messaging API.

A Meta spokesperson stated that some AI companies were “using the feature beyond its intended scope.” However, OpenAI disputed that claim.

“It’s hard to believe Meta is shutting off 1-800-CHATGPT, which has many millions of happy users,” said Kevin Weil, OpenAI’s Vice President of Science, in a social media post. “Users can migrate to our app, website, or browser to preserve conversations.”

Despite the job cuts, Meta emphasized that AI remains one of its highest strategic priorities, particularly in developing next-generation large language models and superintelligent systems.

About Meta’s AI Vision

Meta continues to invest heavily in AI research, focusing on superintelligence—technology designed to surpass human cognitive performance. The company’s long-term goal is to integrate advanced AI models into its social platforms and enterprise products, positioning itself as a global leader in the rapidly evolving field.