Meta’s artificial intelligence reorganization has sparked significant internal backlash, with Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth acknowledging the rollout was “atrocious” in an internal post seen by WIRED. The admission comes after reporting revealed deep discontent within the Applied AI engineering unit, which was formed in March with about 6,500 engineers and product managers to advance the company’s generative AI models. Workers described the work as menial, with one employee likening the environment to “a gulag.”
Internal Unrest and Leadership Response
Bosworth’s memo, reported by WIRED, directly addressed the erosion of trust among employees. “We’ve undermined the trust you have that your specific expertise and contribution will be valued, that you will grow and advance your career, and that this will be a place where you can actually have an impact,” he wrote. He also acknowledged that rapid strategy shifts and a boom/bust hiring cycle had left teams “in the lurch.” The unrest is part of a broader morale decline at Meta following mass layoffs, worker surveillance, and other employee concerns. In recent days, several executives—including CEO Mark Zuckerberg—posted internal messages acknowledging the discontent and pledging changes.
Concrete Measures to Rebuild Trust
In his lengthy memo, Bosworth outlined several steps to address the crisis. Meta plans to cap managers at approximately 20 direct reports each, aiming to provide more personalized attention. The company will also limit the number of times employees switch managers during restructurings. Leadership will commit to better explaining the rationale behind strategic shifts, and managers will prioritize managing over independent work. Additionally, workers will have access to “AI coaching” tools if they choose to use them.
Responding to a comment on his memo, Bosworth wrote, “We obviously did an atrocious job explaining the vision, giving people a clear picture of how we would support them and their careers in the shift, and painting a picture of how it would change over time.”
Career Mobility and Compute Allocation
In a separate post from late Friday seen by WIRED, Maher Saba, vice president leading the Applied AI team, announced that employees who were forced into the unit could now apply for other roles within Meta. “Moving forward, we are returning to business as usual and giving people the agency to apply to roles that interest them,” Saba wrote. Bosworth also addressed concerns about AI replacing workers, stating that Meta does not believe AI will fully replace AI workers. However, he cautioned, “We should heed the saying, ‘AI won’t take your job but someone who knows AI might.’” He acknowledged “tough trade-offs for a while” regarding compute resource allocation across teams and promised transparency and responsible investment to alleviate bottlenecks.
Morale Boosters and Culture
In an attempt to restore a positive culture, Bosworth vowed to make Meta a “fun and enjoyable” place to work. Specific initiatives include improving microkitchens (break areas with snacks and drinks), increasing travel budgets, and boosting spending on social events to encourage in-person interaction. Meta did not immediately respond to WIRED’s request for comment on the internal posts.
Implications for Enterprise Leaders
For CTOs and technology executives overseeing AI teams, Meta’s experience highlights the risks of rapid reorganization without clear communication and career support. The backlash at one of the world’s largest AI employers underscores the importance of aligning AI strategy with employee development. Bosworth’s admission and corrective measures offer a cautionary tale: even deep-pocketed tech giants can stumble when implementing AI-focused restructurings. Leaders in enterprise IT may take note that transparency, manager spans of control, and investment in workplace amenities are tangible levers to maintain morale during transformative change.
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