Aggressive Hiring Drive Put on Hold
Meta has reportedly frozen new hiring in its artificial intelligence (AI) division after months of aggressively onboarding talent. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, the company decided last week to stop recruiting AI researchers and engineers, marking a shift from its earlier strategy of pulling experts from rivals like Google, OpenAI, Microsoft, and Anthropic.
In recent months, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg had hired over 50 top-level AI researchers, offering them lucrative seven- and eight-figure salaries. The company also made bold acquisition attempts to secure talent, including an unsuccessful $1 billion bid to acquire Thinking Machines Lab, the startup co-founded by former OpenAI COO Mira Murati and Andrew Tulloch.
The freeze also reportedly limits internal job movements, signaling a pause in the talent war that Meta has actively pursued. A company spokesperson confirmed the development, describing it as part of “basic organisational planning” tied to budgeting and restructuring of its new superintelligence division.
Superintelligence Labs Split Into Four Units
Alongside the hiring pause, Meta is said to be restructuring its Superintelligence Labs. The division, which was created to strengthen the company’s AI ambitions, will now be divided into four specialised groups. One group will focus on core AI research, another on advancing superintelligence, a third on developing AI-based tools and features for Meta’s platforms, and the last on building infrastructure such as AI hardware and data centres.
The restructuring is also believed to include downsizing in certain areas, aimed at improving efficiency and workspace management. Analysts suggest the move reflects Meta’s attempt to balance its ambitious AI push with the practical challenges of rising costs and organisational complexity.
While Meta remains deeply committed to AI, the hiring freeze marks a shift in its approach. Rather than simply scaling headcount, the company appears focused on structuring teams for long-term stability and execution. As competition among tech giants intensifies in the race for AI dominance, Meta’s restructuring could shape how effectively it delivers on its promise of next-generation superintelligence.
