Facebook parent company Meta has announced plans to cut around 8,000 jobs - roughly one in ten of its workforce. The move comes as the tech giant spends more than ever on AI projects, with projections of spending $135 billion this year. This significant investment is said to be the key factor behind the layoffs, as Meta focuses on catching up with advancements in AI model development.

Despite Mark Zuckerberg's optimistic outlook that 2026 will see dramatic changes in the way we work due to AI, employees are left grappling with a more dystopian reality. Earlier this week, Meta informed workers they would be tracked and logged in their computer use as part of an effort to improve its AI models - a move one employee described as 'dystopian'.

Meta's job cuts follow similar moves by other tech giants, including Amazon, Oracle and Snap, all cutting thousands of employees. Microsoft recently offered voluntary buyouts to workers with longer tenure at the firm. Although these companies cite increased investment in AI as a factor for downsizing, the trend raises questions about how much work will be left for humans.

Since 2022, Meta has already undergone several rounds of job cuts, but had started hiring again last year. Now, with its largest layoff since 2023, it seems the company is determined to realign itself with AI's demands.