Meta’s chief technology officer Andrew Bosworth admitted in June 2026 that the company did an “atrocious” job rolling out its new Applied AI division, pledging better communication, management stability, and a return of workplace perks in an internal memo seen by WIRED.
Meta formed the Applied AI unit in March 2026, consolidating roughly 6,500 engineers and product managers to work on projects aimed at improving the company’s generative AI models. Employees described widespread dissatisfaction with the division, with one worker characterizing the work as “a gulag.” WIRED reported on that unrest last week.
In his memo, Bosworth acknowledged the damage done to employee trust. “We’ve undermined the trust you have that your specific expertise and contribution will be valued, that you will grow and advance your career, and that this will be a place where you can actually have an impact,” he wrote. He also cited the disruption caused by rapid management restructuring and cycles of hiring and layoffs that left “entire teams in the lurch.”
To address the problems, Bosworth outlined several concrete changes. Meta plans to cap managers at approximately 20 direct reports each and limit how often employees are moved to new managers during restructurings. Leadership will also commit to more clearly explaining the reasoning behind strategic and organizational shifts. Managers will be expected to prioritize people management over independent work, and employees will have access to optional “AI coaching” tools.
In a separate internal post, Maher Saba, the vice president leading the Applied AI team, told employees who were forced into the division that they may now apply for other roles within Meta. “Moving forward, we are returning to business as usual and giving people the agency to apply to roles that interest them,” Saba wrote.
Bosworth also addressed AI’s impact on the workforce, stating that Meta does not believe AI will fully replace workers, while cautioning that employees who understand AI tools may have an advantage over those who do not.
On the cultural side, Bosworth vowed to make Meta a “fun and enjoyable” place to work, promising improvements to office break areas, increased travel budgets, and more spending on in-person social events. The announcements come amid a broader decline in morale at Meta following mass layoffs and worker surveillance concerns, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other executives also posting internal messages acknowledging employee dissatisfaction.
Source: WIRED