Meta, Microsoft, and Nike cut up to 18,000 jobs on Thursday as AI investment accelerates

Meta laid off 10% of its workforce (roughly 8,000 people) and canceled 6,000 open job requisitions, with affected employees notified May 20. Microsoft offered voluntary buyouts to 7% of staff (about 8,750 workers), primarily longtime employees. Nike cut 1,400 jobs, mostly in its technology department. All three companies cited AI modernization or operational streamlining as reasons.

Meta explicitly stated it will redirect layoff savings into AI investment. Microsoft tied buyouts to its AI division reorganization. Nike's cuts focused on modernizing manufacturing and reshaping tech teams—not directly AI-driven, but part of a broader automation trend across these industries.

For workers in tech, manufacturing, and corporate roles: these job losses signal that companies are willing to shed headcount to fund AI capabilities and automation. If you're in mid-to-senior roles at large tech or consumer firms, internal reorganizations around AI may be reshuffling roles faster than before. For job seekers, nearly 55,000 layoffs in 2025 have already cited AI as a factor—this Thursday triple announcement may accelerate that trend.