Meta Platforms has announced another round of layoffs targeting its wearables division, with 137 jobs being eliminated across its Silicon Valley offices as the company continues to restructure amid shifting priorities toward artificial intelligence. The latest cuts come as part of broader workforce reductions that will see nearly 200 Bay Area jobs eliminated overall, according to state government filings. The Facebook creator will cut 124 jobs in Burlingame and 74 in Sunnyvale, with a portion of these reductions affecting the wearables division.
The majority of the latest cuts are within Meta's wearables division, according to company letters filed with state employment departments. This follows earlier job reductions announced in January when the company laid off more than 300 employees within its Reality Labs division as it shifted priorities toward artificial intelligence.
Most affected employees' positions will end on May 29, according to Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notices filed with California's Employment Development Department. The separations are expected to be permanent.
Meta's latest workforce reduction comes amid a wave of tech industry layoffs in early 2026. So far this year, Meta has eliminated 519 jobs in California alone, according to a review of the company's WARN filings in the state.
The tech sector has seen significant downsizing across multiple companies this year. Oracle recently announced the largest single-day layoff in tech history by cutting 30,000 jobs, citing "organizational restructuring." Other major tech firms including Amazon, Block (formerly Square), Atlassian, Dell, ASML Holdings, and Spotify have also implemented workforce reductions.
Many companies have cited artificial intelligence as a primary driver for their restructuring efforts. As AI technology advances, companies are adjusting their workforce composition and reducing roles in certain areas while increasing investment in AI capabilities.
Meta's focus on wearables has been part of its broader metaverse ambitions through its Reality Labs division. However, the company has been gradually shifting resources toward artificial intelligence development as competition intensifies in the AI space.
"Earlier this year, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized the company's commitment to becoming a leader in artificial intelligence during earnings calls and public statements."
The restructuring appears to reflect this pivot away from some hardware-focused initiatives toward software and AI development.
The affected positions include software engineers, product managers, and other technical roles within the wearables division. Some employees work remotely while others are based at Meta's offices in Silicon Valley locations including Burlingame and Sunnyvale.
According to WARN notice requirements, companies must provide at least 60 days' notice before implementing mass layoffs or plant closures. This gives affected employees time to prepare for their transition and seek new employment opportunities.
As we move through April 2026, continued restructuring across the tech sector as companies adapt to changing market conditions and technological shifts. The rapid advancement of AI capabilities is forcing many organizations to reevaluate their workforce needs and strategic priorities.
For Meta specifically, these latest layoffs represent another step in the company's ongoing transformation from a social media platform to a diversified technology company focused on artificial intelligence and next-generation computing platforms.
