Meta cuts 600 AI research jobs while expanding superintelligence team

Meta is reportedly cutting approximately 600 positions from its Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) unit while simultaneously expanding its newly formed superintelligence team, TBD Lab. The restructuring reflects Meta’s strategic pivot toward commercial AI applications following the company’s $14.3 billion investment in Scale AI, a data company, and the hiring of Scale’s CEO Alexandr Wang in June.

What you should know: The layoffs target Meta’s legacy AI research division, which has taken a backseat to the company’s more commercially focused AI initiatives.

• FAIR leader Joelle Pineau departed earlier this year as the company shifted priorities toward AI products and infrastructure.
• Meta paused its AI hiring spree just months after launching it and announced a restructuring focused on AI-related products and infrastructure.
• Affected employees will be allowed to apply for other positions within the company.

The strategic shift: Meta is consolidating its AI research efforts under the TBD Lab umbrella to streamline decision-making and increase individual impact.

• “By reducing the size of our team, fewer conversations will be required to make a decision, and each person will be more load-bearing and have more scope and impact,” Wang wrote in an internal memo.
• The company plans to “integrate and scale many of the research ideas and projects from FAIR into the larger model runs conducted by TBD Lab,” according to Wang’s August statement.

Why this matters: The restructuring signals Meta’s transition from broad AI research to focused superintelligence development, mirroring industry-wide trends toward commercially viable AI applications.

• While cutting research roles, Meta continues hiring for TBD Lab, indicating where the company sees its AI future.
• The layoffs also affect AI product and infrastructure teams, suggesting a comprehensive reorganization of Meta’s AI operations.

The bigger picture: Meta’s moves reflect the broader tech industry’s evolution from experimental AI research to practical implementation and commercial deployment.