Meta Cuts 10% of Metaverse Division Staff Amid Shift to AI-Powered Wearables

Core Insights - Meta has laid off 1,500 employees from its Reality Labs division, representing 10% of the division's workforce, as part of a strategic shift in focus from the Metaverse to AI wearables [1][2][3] Group 1: Layoffs and Strategic Shift - The layoffs are part of a broader plan to reduce investment in virtual reality products and redirect resources towards artificial intelligence [2][3] - Meta's Reality Labs has been experiencing significant operating losses, exceeding $4 billion per quarter [4] Group 2: AI Wearables and Demand - Meta's AI-powered wearables are reportedly seeing demand that exceeds current supply, prompting the company to consider increasing production capacity for Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses from 10 million to 20 million units by year-end, with potential for further increases if demand continues [4] - The company paused a planned global expansion of smart glasses due to unprecedented demand and limited inventory in the U.S. [5]