Meta layoffs 10% staff, Google revamps search, AI backlash grows
Meta cuts 8,000 jobs amid low morale; Google goes agentic; grads boo AI.
Meta is in crisis mode, cutting approximately 8,000 jobs (10% of staff) in its latest round, on top of 25,000 cuts since the 'Year of Efficiency' began in 2023. Internal morale is at a record low despite record profits, as Zuckerberg justifies layoffs by massive AI and data center investments. Employees report grim vibes and uncertainty.
At Google I/O, the company announced a transformative vision for search: moving toward an 'agentic' model where AI completes tasks without users clicking links. The overhaul aims to keep users within Google's ecosystem. Separately, AI backlash is mounting: graduates booed former Google CEO Eric Schmidt at a commencement speech, and a growing community of 'sad wives of AI' vent about partners obsessed with the technology.
- Meta cutting 8,000 jobs (10% workforce) — total 25,000 layoffs since 2023 — with low morale despite record profits.
- Google I/O 2026 unveils agentic search that reduces need for user clicks, keeping users within Google.
- Eric Schmidt booed at graduation; 'sad wives of AI' movement highlights public fatigue with AI hype.
Why It Matters
Big Tech's AI pivot is causing layoffs, reshaping search, and fueling public backlash among younger generations.