Meta’s chief technology officer, Andrew Bosworth, acknowledged the company’s poor handling of its new AI division and promised to improve internal culture through better communication, career growth, and workplace amenities. In an internal memo shared with WIRED, Bosworth admitted the rollout of the Applied AI unit was flawed, leaving employees feeling undervalued and uncertain about their futures. He described the situation as undermining trust and causing frustration, particularly due to rapid management changes and inconsistent support for teams. The memo followed recent reports of widespread dissatisfaction among the division’s 6,500 engineers and product managers, with some describing the work as menial and likening the environment to a 'gulag.'

Bosworth outlined plans to address the issues, including capping managers at 20 direct reports, limiting frequent managerial changes, and prioritizing employee development. He also emphasized the need for greater transparency in strategic decisions and promised to explain the rationale behind organizational changes. Additionally, Meta plans to introduce 'AI coaching' tools and improve microkitchens, travel budgets, and social events to enhance employee morale. Bosworth also stressed that the company does not believe AI will fully replace human workers, but warned of 'tough trade-offs' in compute resources for different teams. He encouraged employees to escalate any concerns and pledged to invest responsibly to alleviate bottlenecks.

The unrest within the AI team is part of a broader decline in morale at Meta, following mass layoffs, worker surveillance, and other workplace concerns. In recent days, several executives, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg, have acknowledged employee frustrations and committed to making changes. In a separate internal post, Maher Saba, vice president of the Applied AI team, announced that employees could now apply for other roles within Meta if they could secure them. Bosworth also emphasized the importance of balancing AI integration with human expertise, stating, 'AI won’t take your job but someone who knows AI might.'

Source: wired