Meta staff unrest grows after a rushed shift to new AI teams

In short: Wired reports growing employee frustration at Meta after layoffs and a fast company reorganization that moved thousands of people into new AI roles.

What’s going on

Meta has been reshuffling teams to focus more on artificial intelligence, or AI (software that can write, summarize, and answer questions, like a very advanced autocomplete). According to Wired’s reporting and discussion on its Uncanny Valley podcast, the changes have hurt morale inside some of Meta’s newly formed AI groups.

One flashpoint is a team described as supporting Meta’s top AI lab. Some employees say they were moved there without a choice. In an internal meeting recording described by Wired, one worker interrupted the call to complain bluntly about leadership.

Meta’s leaders have acknowledged problems with how the reorganization was communicated. Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth reportedly called the communication “atrocious.” Proposed fixes mentioned in the discussion included management changes and even improving office snacks, which some employees reportedly felt missed the point.

Employees also described the new work as routine. Some compared it to being asked to help “train the machine,” meaning they do small tasks that help improve AI tools (like correcting practice tests so the system learns). That is a sensitive issue during layoffs, because some workers worry the same tools could reduce the need for people later.

What to watch

Meta is spending heavily to catch up with rivals in AI. The key question is whether Meta can improve its AI products fast enough, without further damaging trust inside the company. If the internal turmoil continues, it could make it harder for Meta to keep and recruit talent for AI work.

Source: Wired