Meta's Reality Labs chief is calling the 'most important' meeting of the year, urging employees to show up in person

Core Insights - Meta's Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Bosworth, has called an all-hands meeting for January 14, emphasizing its importance as the "most important" of the year [1] - The meeting will focus on Reality Labs, which oversees Meta's wearables, virtual and augmented reality initiatives, and a nascent robotics unit [2] - In-person attendance is being strongly recommended, with some managers urging employees to prioritize this meeting [2] Financial Performance - Reality Labs has incurred losses exceeding $70 billion since 2020, indicating the costly nature of this venture for Meta [3] - Budget cuts of up to 30% and potential job cuts in Reality Labs have been reported, reflecting ongoing financial challenges [5] Strategic Shifts - In 2025, Meta shifted its strategic focus from the metaverse to AI, investing $14.3 billion in Scale AI and hiring its CEO, Alexandr Wang [4] - This strategic pivot included a multibillion-dollar hiring spree aimed at attracting top-tier AI talent from competitors [4] Organizational Changes - Reality Labs has undergone multiple rounds of cuts, including layoffs in Oculus Studios and a broader reduction of nearly 4,000 roles companywide in January 2025, with at least 560 affecting Reality Labs [6] - Bosworth has described 2025 as "the most critical" year in his tenure, suggesting significant pressure on the division to deliver results [6] Future Outlook - Bosworth indicated that the current year will determine whether the efforts in Reality Labs will be viewed as visionary or a misadventure, highlighting the high stakes involved [7]