Meta’s 20% Layoff Rumor is Coming For These Companies Next

Editor’s Note: a prior version of this story cited a source indicating an additional 14,000 layoffs which has since been disproved by Amazon and has been updated to reflect the actual announcements. 

The demands of developing Artificial Intelligence. are vast and running into the trillions. In order to cut costs elsewhere, Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META | META Price Prediction), recently announced layoffs over the course of 2026 that are expected to trim 20% from its payroll. Unsurprisingly, the high rate of AI tech personnel burnout is adding to the attrition rate, and companies such as Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL)may soon follow suit. 

Zuckerberg, The Grim Reaper

Mark Zuckerberg’s tech geek image masks are business ruthlessness and determination that has earned both admiration and enemies.

Although Mark Zuckerberg’s tech geek persona may have been echoed in comedies like The Big Bang Theory, his track record shows a single minded ruthlessness in pursuing his objectives and in removing any obstacles along the way. From his early conflicts with the Winklevoss twins Facebook co-founders to his “all-in” pursuit of developing A.I. regardless of capex, Zuckerberg has exhibited a “take no prisoners” mindset on numerous occasions. In the wake of launch delays for Meta’s latest A.I., dubbed “Avocado”, the company announced that  20% of its current workforce – roughly 15,000 jobs – would be given pink slips over the course of 2026. 

The move is not unprecedented. Meta shed over 20,000 jobs in 2022-2023 in its “year of efficiency” undertaking. With Meta doubling its 2025 A.I. R&D spending to $135 billion in 2026, Zuckerberg has decided to address the concerns of investors by further payroll cuts versus curbs on A.I. In his purview, the benefits of A.I. will be able to replace many of these employees’ functions and will increase productivity of the ones who remain – all in the not-too-distant future. 

The increased efficiency and other benefits that many analysts predict will be afforded by A.I. are already making their way into the plans of other companies increasingly using A.I. in new and innovative ways. 

Bezos Has His Chainsaw Out For Round 2

After recently announced 16,000 job cuts =

Amazon recently announced 16,000 layoffs, Thanks to its A.I. “efficiency matrix”, Amazon upper management is targeting AWS, Alexa, and consolidation of other departments, thus requiring significantly smaller workplace headcounts.

Jeff Bezos’ scythe is not limited to Amazon proper. According to the New York Times, his The Washington Post has been hemorrhaging in excess of $100 million annually. Bezos reportedly planned to cut the newsroom budget by 50% and double the productivity of those who remained. All this while simultaneously protecting some core parts of The Post’s coverage, like investigative journalism. Presumably, A.I. might play no small part in Bezos’ “doubled productivity” agenda. 

Larry Ellison: A.I.-Fueled Major Restructuring for Oracle

Larry Ellison not only plans to cut 10% of Oracle’s workforce but needs to raise $50 billion for its continued A.I. development and additional data centers, with losses anticipated until 2030.

Oracle is reputedly also planning an A.I. powered restructuring that will shed tens of thousands of jobs. Larry Ellison has already made plans to raise $50 billion through new Oracle debt and equity issues for constructing multiple data centers to power its A.I. development, even though it will be a financial black hole until 2030 at the earliest. 

Previously, Oracle had shed 3,000 jobs in its North America, India, and Philippines divisions in September, 2025. It is estimated that the cuts will represent 10% of Oracle’s current workforce.  

Separately, Ellison’s Skydance/Paramount acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery is also anticipated to cut as much as $6 billion from its budget, including massive layoffs. The anticipated “cost-cutting synergies” have prompted the Teamsters to lobby the DOJ to protect their jobs and those of other film and television industry technicians and workers.