Meta’s reality labs division to execute layoffs in silicon unit

Employees within this division received notification of impending layoffs via Meta's internal networking platform, on Tuesday.

In a recent development, Meta is poised to execute a significant workforce reduction within its Reality Labs division, specifically targeting the unit responsible for pioneering bespoke silicon solutions in the realm of the metaverse. This restructuring initiative comes as a response to Meta’s endeavors to enhance its competitive edge in the augmented and virtual reality hardware sector.

Sources with intimate knowledge of the matter divulged to Reuters that employees within this division received notification of impending layoffs via Meta’s internal discussion platform, Workplace, on Tuesday. According to Reuters, the affected employees can expect to receive formal notifications regarding their employment status within the company by early Wednesday morning.

Employee restructuring is taking place in the dedicated silicon unit, known as the FAST (Future Application-Specific Technology) unit. This unit is tasked with the development of tailored microchips to power the hardware offerings of Meta’s Reality Labs division.

Notably, based on the report by Reuters, Meta has faced challenges in producing silicon that can effectively rival external providers in terms of performance and innovation, thereby necessitating collaborations with established chipmaker Qualcomm for products currently available on the market, including the popular Quest headsets and Ray-Ban glasses.

It is understood that the FAST silicon unit faced with restructuring comprises approximately 600 employees, but the precise scale of these workforce reductions remains undisclosed.