Meta is pouring vast resources into artificial intelligence, but the payoff is taking longer than executives hoped. At the same time, employee trust is cracking under pressure to move fast.
Zuckerberg described Meta as being on a "journey to superintelligence," adding that the road will require hard work.
The slower-than-expected development has forced Meta to adjust its internal schedules. While the company still aims for superintelligence, the immediate focus is on smaller, practical wins. This recalibration comes amid broader concerns about data privacy and employee trust, highlighted by the controversy over the keystroke monitoring program. The layoffs in May, which cut 10% of staff - roughly 8,000 employees - added to the strain, as remaining workers face increased workloads and uncertainty about the company's direction.
Background on Meta's AI Investment: Meta has committed tens of billions of dollars to AI talent and infrastructure, even as it reduced its workforce by 10% in May. The company's long-term bet on superintelligence requires sustained investment, but the immediate returns remain uncertain. Meta's AI efforts span large language models, recommendation systems, and virtual assistants, though the most ambitious goal of achieving human-level intelligence remains distant. The recent workforce reductions have forced the company to rebalance priorities, with some experimental AI projects being scaled back or delayed while others accelerate toward near-term products.
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Meta's annual AI spending now exceeds tens of billions of dollars, funded largely by its core advertising business. The May layoffs were part of a broader effort to cut costs while redirecting capital toward AI infrastructure. This reallocation has left some divisions understaffed, contributing to the morale issues acknowledged by CTO Andrew Bosworth. Meanwhile, the company continues to hire specialized AI talent at premium salaries, even as it shrinks other teams.
At the town hall, Meta's CTO Andrew Bosworth told employees that morale is "probably one of the worst it's ever been" in the company's 20-year history. The internal tension between pushing for speed and maintaining trust is clear.
One flashpoint was Meta's AI training program that used employee keystrokes and mouse movements. After a data leak and strong backlash, the company paused it. Bosworth admitted that the rollout hurt employee morale and confidence, but noted the data collected was "more valuable than anticipated."
Those who remain now confront heavier workloads and persistent uncertainty about the company's strategic direction, while Meta continues to allocate tens of billions annually to AI talent and infrastructure.
Meta still says it is on a "journey to superintelligence." The next three to six months will show whether the AI benefits arrive as promised.
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