Meta cuts over 700 jobs in Ireland linked to AI training

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, confirmed it will lay off over 700 workers in Ireland. Most of these roles are connected to training and supervising artificial intelligence systems. The decision is part of a broader plan to cut operational costs and accelerate automation processes.

Many of the affected employees work for Covalen, a Dublin-based firm providing external services to Meta. These workers focus on content moderation, data labeling, and evaluating information used to train AI models. Their tasks include reviewing, classifying, and assessing content to help improve automated algorithms.

It’s estimated that these layoffs account for about 10% of Meta’s global Irish workforce, amid a push to increase investments in AI. The company aims to develop more automated systems capable of replacing human roles in the near future.

Among those impacted are around 500 data annotators responsible for feeding and correcting AI systems. Their work involves analyzing content, identifying violations, and teaching algorithms how to respond to various scenarios. Many see their current role as training the AI to eventually replace them, according to Wired reports.

Their tasks also include creating complex prompts, testing AI model limits, and assessing whether automated systems can detect harmful or prohibited content. The layoffs were announced in a brief video call, leaving employees with little opportunity for questions, sparking concern among staff.

This round of cuts follows a previous reduction in Covalen, where about 400 employees were laid off last November, leading to protests and labor tensions. If confirmed, this new cut would nearly halve the local team, as reported by the Communications Workers’ Union. Meta’s strategy aligns with a period of heavy investment in AI, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg indicating 2026 will bring significant changes to the tech industry’s work methods.