Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has claimed that artificial intelligence (AI) is ultimately creating jobs rather than eliminating them, citing the immense infrastructure necessary to power the technology. Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, Zuckerberg emphasized that "all the work around AI has net created a lot of jobs because there's all this infrastructure that needs to get created," suggesting that widespread displacement has not materialized as feared.
The Infrastructure Argument
Zuckerberg's argument hinges on the physical expansion required to support Meta's ambitious AI initiatives. The company reportedly operates or is constructing 32 data centers worldwide, with plans to double its computing power to 7 gigawatts this year, and then again to 14 gigawatts in 2027. Such large-scale projects necessitate significant hiring across various sectors, including construction crews, electricians, cooling engineers, and specialists in power infrastructure, directly linking new job creation to AI's growing demand for computational resources.
Layoffs Amid AI Transition
Zuckerberg's remarks come as Meta faces scrutiny following substantial layoffs and internal dissent. In May, Meta cut 8,000 employees as part of an "AI-first" restructuring, impacting approximately 10% of its workforce, while reassigning another 7,000 employees to AI-focused roles. The company is also projected to spend between $130 billion and $145 billion on AI infrastructure in 2026, a figure roughly double the previous year's outlay.
The May 20 layoffs were reportedly communicated via emails sent in the early hours across different time zones. Internally, employees marked departures with "salad emojis," an internal shorthand for "salute," and offices remained empty as staff were asked to work from home. Prior to the layoffs, discontent simmered over a program that recorded keystrokes, mouse movements, and screen activity to train Meta's AI models. Over a thousand employees signed a petition against the program, which offered no opt-out for corporate laptops, with those reassigned to the new Applied AI and Engineering team specifically informed that participation was mandatory.