Meta Platforms(US:META) Xin Lang Cai Jing·2025-12-06 06:24Core Viewpoint - Meta is significantly reducing its budget for the metaverse division by 30%, marking a shift away from its previous focus on the metaverse towards more profitable areas, particularly AI [1][4][20]. Group 1: Budget Cuts and Personnel Adjustments - Meta is considering a budget cut of up to 30% for its metaverse department, primarily affecting the Meta Horizon Worlds social platform and Quest VR hardware [4][19]. - Since early 2021, Reality Labs has incurred losses exceeding $70 billion, prompting this budget reduction as a direct response to Wall Street's pressure [5][20]. - The company may initiate layoffs affecting 10% to 30% of employees in the metaverse division as early as January 2026 [7][22]. Group 2: Talent Acquisition and Resource Allocation - Despite cutting VR budgets, Meta is investing in high-level talent by hiring former Apple design executive Alan Dye as Chief Design Officer for Reality Labs [23][24]. - Dye will lead a new creative studio focused on integrating design, fashion, and technology for next-generation AI products, emphasizing the strategic importance of design aesthetics [25][32]. - The funds saved from the budget cuts are expected to be redirected towards AI glasses and other wearable technology projects, as competitors slow their efforts in virtual reality [22][32]. Group 3: Divergence in Technical Direction - Meta's Chief AI Scientist Yann LeCun is leaving to establish a new AI company, AMI, which will focus on "world models" rather than the mainstream generative AI approach [27][29]. - LeCun criticizes the prevailing generative AI models, arguing they lack essential elements for achieving human-level intelligence [28][29]. - AMI will operate independently from Meta, although it will maintain a collaborative relationship without accepting Meta's investment to ensure research independence [30][31]. Group 4: Strategic Balance and Future Challenges - Meta's recent actions reflect a pragmatic strategy, reallocating resources from the metaverse to AI infrastructure and hardware that show market potential [32][33]. - The introduction of top design talent aims to ensure that future AI hardware excels in user interaction aesthetics [32]. - By allowing independent exploration in foundational AI theories, Meta is diversifying its technological bets, mitigating risks associated with focusing solely on generative models [32][33].