Meta's Secret AI Automation Plan Backfires Following Staff Revolt and Technical Glitches

Internal documents have revealed that Meta Platforms secretly pursued a sweeping initiative, codenamed Project OT (Organization Transformation), designed to automate significant portions of its workforce using artificial intelligence. Spearheaded by Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, the ambitious plan aimed to cut up to 60 percent of staff across targeted teams, shifting operational responsibilities to AI software agents.

Restructuring Under Project OT

According to internal planning files, Meta envisioned replacing traditional department structures with small, high-density teams. Standard groups of 10 to 20 employees were slated for reduction down to just three to five workers. These remaining staff members—identified through internal evaluation systems as high-performing talent—were tasked with supervising autonomous virtual workers designed to handle routine tasks.

To achieve these workforce targets, executives planned two primary phases of layoffs, scheduled for May and November 2026. The transition strategy included freezing open requisitions, eliminating low-performing roles, and installing tracking software on employee devices to harvest workflow data for AI training models.

Internal Resistance and System Failures

The automation initiative met immediate friction both culturally and technically. Following the initial wave of job reductions in May, news of the broader automation targets circulated across internal networks, sparking intense staff pushback. A lawsuit filed by more than two dozen workers accused Meta of utilizing algorithmic software to choose layoff targets, alleging the system disproportionately targeted employees with disabilities.

The deployment of device-level tracking software further eroded staff trust. Internal surveys indicated that employee approval ratings plummeted from 74 percent down to 55 percent within months. Concurrently, operational risks escalated: technical reports cited a surge in security incidents, system outages, and potential data leaks caused by unchecked AI agents, while internal posts questioned the software's actual productivity gains.

Strategic Shift and Scaling Back

In response to growing internal discontent and technical limitations, Meta canceled the planned November layoffs. During a July internal town hall, Zuckerberg addressed employees directly, conceding that AI agent technology had not matured as quickly as leadership had anticipated.

Meta has since sought to reframe Project OT, stating that the project was a scenario-planning exercise rather than a strict operational mandate. In recent statements, Zuckerberg shifted focus, emphasizing that Meta intends to build tools that empower human workers across its product ecosystem rather than focusing primarily on workplace automation.