<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Meta's </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/meta-to-slash-thousands-of-jobs-in-ai-push/ddbeef78-ee8c-452d-a3fa-e367845a07ae" rel="" target="_blank" title="previously-reported 8000-strong job cuts"><span>previously-reported 8000-strong job cuts</span></a><span> have begun to roll out around the world, with affected employees being notifed from 4am in their local time zones.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Last month, Meta confirmed the job cuts were in the works as part of a major AI-focused restructure.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We're doing this as part of our continued effort to run the company more efficiently and to allow us to offset the other investments we're making," Meta's chief people officer Janelle Gale said at the time in an internal memo to employees.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-may-21-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/525613a3-c84c-4e08-8d87-94949382211a" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Map reveals Iranian ambitions for critical waterway</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is not an easy trade-off and it will mean letting go of people who have made meaningful contributions to Meta during their time here."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><em><span>New York Times</span></em><span> has also reported that a further 7000 employees will be assigned to AI-focused roles.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Prior to the cuts, Meta's workforce numbered about 78,000 people, and the </span><em><span>Times</span></em><span> said many were feeling anxious and angry at having essentially trained their computerised replacements.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/meta-to-cut-8000-jobs-in-mass-ai-spend/87eb87b3-3815-4574-9ab6-e6d82ce9b32e" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/itamar-ben-gvir-australia-penny-wong-condemns-actions-israeli-minister-video-taunting-pro-palestine-flotilla-prisoners/fac8f3d9-e610-4ffb-8dc3-217a33ef886f" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Penny Wong condemns Israeli minister after taunting video emerges</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A small number of those employees work in Australia, and 9news.com.au has contacted Meta to ask if those will be among the affected roles.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Mark Zuckerberg-helmed company, which owns Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, has forecast up to $US145 billion ($202.8 billion) in spending this year, with much of that dedicated to AI development.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Meanwhile, it also recently reported record profits, prompting further discontent among employees over job cuts.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>BREAKING:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/avalon-airport-melbourne-potential-bomb-scare/c4873f41-4898-4732-b9c8-8bee7c7f408e" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Bomb squad called, domestic terminal evacuated at Avalon Airport</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Success isn't a given," Zuckerberg wrote in a note to terminated employees, as reported by the </span><em><span>Times</span></em><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"AI is the most consequential technology of our lifetimes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The companies that lead the way will define the next generation."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a 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