Meta’s Applied AI unit, formed in March 2026, includes about 6,500 engineers and product managers tasked with supporting AI research [1, 2]. Employees describe their assignments in the unit as forced and dehumanizing, with some calling the experience a “gulag.” One worker said, "It's literally the gulag," while another added, "Most people find the work soul-crushing," citing a lack of purpose and minimal interaction beyond repetitive weekly tasks [1, 2].
The Applied AI team, led by Maher Saba and reporting to Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth, was originally organized with up to 50 employees under one manager, which some say contributed to poor working conditions [1]. The unit has become a focal point of discontent after Meta laid off 10% of its workforce—around 8,000 employees—in June 2026, raising stress across divisions including AI teams [2].
Employee unrest intensified after more than 1,600 Meta employees company-wide signed a petition protesting a program that monitors their clicks and keystrokes to gather AI training data [1, 2]. In a recent livestreamed employee-only presentation, frustration boiled over when an attendee interrupted with a profanity-laden tirade demanding a senior AI executive be insulted publicly [1, 2].
CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged the distress caused by these recent changes in an internal memo, admitting the company had made mistakes amid the turmoil [1]. The Applied AI team’s members describe themselves as “draftees,” assigned without choice to tasks they find menial and demoralizing [1, 2].
Meta’s leadership faces pressure to address morale and working conditions as employee protests continue. The company has not publicly announced remedial steps but internal discussions and employee feedback channels are reportedly active.
