Meta's AI reorganization has been a tumultuous affair, to say the least. The company's chief technology officer, Andrew Bosworth, has admitted that the initial rollout of the new artificial intelligence division was 'atrocious', citing widespread dissatisfaction among employees. This comes as no surprise, given the menial nature of the work and the lack of clear vision for employees' careers. The Applied AI engineering unit, formed in March with 6,500 engineers and product managers, has been described as a 'gulag' by some workers.
Bosworth's memo, which followed recent employee feedback, acknowledged the breakdown of trust and career advancement opportunities. He attributed this to a rushed focus on broader strategy issues, such as competing in the market for AI coding tools, while neglecting the employees' perspective. The management structure, which was providing stability, was disrupted by rapid changes in strategy, leaving teams in disarray.
The unrest within the AI team is part of a broader downward swing in morale at Meta, following mass layoffs, worker surveillance, and other concerns. Bosworth, a long-time Zuckerberg loyalist, promised more personalized attention, with managers limited to 20 direct reports and employees given the agency to switch roles if desired. The Applied AI team will now focus on increasing coding and agentic capabilities, as well as addressing security, debugging, and product development.
In a surprising twist, Bosworth suggested that drafting people onto the AI team was the right call, despite the initial dissatisfaction. He reminded employees that they may need to work on less personally fulfilling projects temporarily, as 'there are going to be times where the work requires sacrifice'. This raises a deeper question about the balance between speed and employee satisfaction.
One thing that immediately stands out is the tension between Meta's motto of 'move fast and break things' and the need for a more thoughtful approach to employee satisfaction. Bosworth's memo emphasized that AI won't replace human workers, but rather, 'someone who knows AI might'. This implies a need for a more nuanced approach to AI integration, one that considers the impact on employees and their careers.
In an attempt to boost morale, Bosworth vowed to make the company a 'fun and enjoyable' place to work. This includes improving microkitchens with snacks and drinks, increasing travel budgets, and spending on social events. However, the question remains whether these measures will be enough to rekindle the best of the culture that attracted employees in the first place. The challenge for Meta is to find a balance between innovation and employee satisfaction, a delicate tightrope walk that will determine the company's future success.
