Meta’s artificial intelligence ( AI) division is facing fresh internal criticism as concerns about its workplace culture come to light. A former employee, who recently exited the company, has described the AI unit as a dysfunctional one, full of fear and confusion.
The departing researcher had worked closely with Meta’s LLaMA models and left behind a candid note that is now gaining attention.
According to the former employee, the department—with a strength of 2,000—has become directionless, with many workers feeling disengaged and demoralised. The internal atmosphere is described as strained by continuous cycles of layoffs and rigid performance reviews. These practices, the note suggests, have eroded employee morale and stifled innovation.
The criticism also highlights a growing disconnect between leadership and teams on the ground. While Meta aggressively recruits talent from top firms such as OpenAI and Apple, insiders claim that efforts are largely focused on assembling a “Superintelligence” team.
As a result, it is reported that many existing AI units are left without a clear roadmap or goals, compounding confusion and dissatisfaction within the ranks.
The former researcher likened the situation to “metastatic cancer,” for it appears the internal dysfunction has spread and may soon be difficult to contain. The note draws attention to deeper structural issues that may not be resolved by high-profile hires or big-budget projects alone.
These revelations come at a time when Meta is endeavouring to stay ahead in the race to develop next-generation AI. However, if such a level of internal disarray continues, the company may struggle to maintain cohesion and momentum in a highly- competitive and rapidly- evolving field.