Meta Is in Crisis, Google Search’s Makeover, and AI Gets Booed by Graduates
Meta is facing significant challenges as it announces layoffs affecting about 8,000 employees, part of a broader trend of job cuts. Meanwhile, Google has unveiled ambitious changes to its search capabilities during its annual I/O conference. Additionally, there is growing discontent among recent graduates regarding AI, highlighted by a negative reception to a former CEO's comments at a commencement speech.
- ▪Meta is laying off approximately 10 percent of its workforce, totaling around 8,000 employees.
- ▪This round of layoffs adds to the roughly 25,000 jobs cut in recent years as part of Mark Zuckerberg's efficiency initiative.
- ▪Google's I/O conference showcased significant updates to its search functionality, emphasizing AI advancements.
- ▪Recent graduates have expressed mixed feelings about AI, as evidenced by the booing of a former CEO during a commencement speech.
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Brian BarrettZoë SchifferLeah FeigerBusinessMay 21, 2026 4:44 PMMeta Is in Crisis, Google Search’s Makeover, and AI Gets Booed by GraduatesIn this episode of Uncanny Valley, we unpack the mass layoffs at Meta, big announcements at Google I/O, and the latest backlash against AI.Photo-Illustration: WIRED Staff; David Paul Morris/Getty ImagesCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyThis week on Uncanny Valley, the team discusses Meta’s recent layoffs and what they’ve been hearing from employees about the increasingly grim vibes at the company. They also talk about Elon Musk losing his lawsuit against OpenAI and share highlights from Google’s annual conference—including an ambitious AI vision to change how people search the web.
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