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Meta is axing 600 roles across its AI division

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Re: Meta is axing 600 roles across its AI division

#21
post #3

Because the AI works so well, or because it doesn't? > ”By reducing the size of our team, fewer conversations will be required to make a decision, and each person will be more load-bearing and have more scope and impact,” Wang writes in a memo seen by Axios. That's kinda wild. I'm kinda shocked they put it in writing.

"Each person will be more load-bearing"

"We want to cut costs and increase the burden on the remaining high-performers"

Re: Meta is axing 600 roles across its AI division

#22
post #18
post #3

Because the AI works so well, or because it doesn't? > ”By reducing the size of our team, fewer conversations will be required to make a decision, and each person will be more load-bearing and have more scope and impact,” Wang writes in a memo seen by Axios. That's kinda wild. I'm kinda shocked they put it in writing.

As AI improves, possibly it begins replacing roles on the AI team?

They would say that explicitly, that's the kind of marketing you can't buy.

Re: Meta is axing 600 roles across its AI division

#23
post #3

Because the AI works so well, or because it doesn't? > ”By reducing the size of our team, fewer conversations will be required to make a decision, and each person will be more load-bearing and have more scope and impact,” Wang writes in a memo seen by Axios. That's kinda wild. I'm kinda shocked they put it in writing.

Why do you think it's wild? I've seen that dynamic before (i.e. too many cooks in the kitchen) and this seems like an honest assessment.

It's a meaningless nonsense tautology? Is that the level of leadership there?

Maybe they should reduce it all to Wang, he can make all decisions with the impact and scope he is truly capable of.

Re: Meta is axing 600 roles across its AI division

#24
post #3

Because the AI works so well, or because it doesn't? > ”By reducing the size of our team, fewer conversations will be required to make a decision, and each person will be more load-bearing and have more scope and impact,” Wang writes in a memo seen by Axios. That's kinda wild. I'm kinda shocked they put it in writing.

We’re too incompetent to setup a proper approval workflow or create a sensible org structure is a heck of an argument to make publicly.

Re: Meta is axing 600 roles across its AI division

#26
post #3

Because the AI works so well, or because it doesn't? > ”By reducing the size of our team, fewer conversations will be required to make a decision, and each person will be more load-bearing and have more scope and impact,” Wang writes in a memo seen by Axios. That's kinda wild. I'm kinda shocked they put it in writing.

"Load bearing." Isn't this the same guy that sold his company for $14B. I hope his "impact and scope" are quantifiably and equivalently "load bearing" or is this a way to sacrifice some of his privileged former colleagues at the Zuck altar.

Re: Meta is axing 600 roles across its AI division

#28
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sadly, the only people who would be surprised reading a statement like this would be anyone who is not ex-fb/meta

Maybe I’m not understanding, but why is that wild? Is it just the fact that those people lost jobs? If it were a justification for a re-org I wouldn’t find it objectionable at all

It damages trust. Layoffs are nearly always bad for a company, but are terrible in a research environment. You want people who will geek out over math/code all day, and being afraid for your job (for reasons outside your control!) is very counterproductive. This is why tenure was invented.

Re: Meta is axing 600 roles across its AI division

#29
post #5
post #3

Because the AI works so well, or because it doesn't? > ”By reducing the size of our team, fewer conversations will be required to make a decision, and each person will be more load-bearing and have more scope and impact,” Wang writes in a memo seen by Axios. That's kinda wild. I'm kinda shocked they put it in writing.

It's literally like something out of Silicon Valley (the show).

Wait a year or two and for some it's going to be rhyme of the Nucleus storyline.
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