‘It’s Undignified’: Hundreds of Workers Training Meta’s AI Could Be Laid Off
Hundreds of workers in Ireland employed by Meta contractor Covalen are at risk of layoffs, with over 700 jobs potentially cut due to reduced demand and operational changes. The workers, who train and monitor Meta’s AI systems, say their roles are being made redundant by the very technology they helped develop. They were informed of the cuts in a brief, no-questions-allowed meeting, and face a six-month cooldown period blocking them from working with competing Meta vendors. Unions are calling for negotiations on severance and greater worker protections amid growing concerns about AI’s impact on employment.
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Joel KhaliliBusinessApr 28, 2026 2:36 PM‘It’s Undignified’: Hundreds of Workers Training Meta’s AI Could Be Laid OffMore than 700 people working for a Meta contractor in Ireland are at risk of losing their jobs, documents show.Photograph: David Paul Morris/Getty ImagesCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyHundreds of workers in Ireland tasked with refining Meta’s AI models have been told that their jobs are at risk as the company embarks on a sweeping new round of layoffs, according to documents obtained by WIRED.The affected workers are employed by the Dublin-based firm Covalen, which handles various content moderation and labeling services for Meta.The workers were informed of the layoffs over a brief video meeting on Monday afternoon and were not…
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