Tech layoffs are back — and this time, AI is reshaping the rules. Meta is expected to lay off another 8,000 employees globally next week, roughly 10% of its remaining staff, after first announcing the cuts last month. Those impacted will join the nearly 130,000 tech workers who've received layoff notices since January from companies like Oracle, Coinbase, and Snap. Some tech leaders blame the rise and cost of AI; others are simply continuing a pattern of reducing headcount wherever possible. We hear from The Standard's tech editor, Heather Kelly, on what makes this moment different and how it's throwing once-secure workers for a loop. Then we speak with author and grief therapist Claire Bidwell Smith about processing the complicated emotions tied to job loss — and what it means to grieve the life you thought you'd lead. Throughout, we also hear from an anonymous Meta source about what it's like to work there right now as layoffs loom. 📖 READ MORE - Including the full interview with our anonymous Meta source https://sfstandard.com/pacific-standard-time/2026/05/15/meta-employee-gets-real-horror-working-right-now/ ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 Inside Meta: An anonymous source on the May 20th layoffs 01:35 The AI job apocalypse: 100,000 tech layoffs and counting 03:46 Tech editor Heather Kelly on why this wave is different 07:07 AI, not bad earnings, is driving the cuts 08:50 The broken social contract of working in tech 11:46 Beyond coders: who else AI is replacing 14:36 "Performative AI" and the pressure to log tokens at work 15:52 When AI is also writing your job application 19:17 Layoff survival tips from two journalists who have been through it 22:00 Grief therapist Claire Bidwell Smith on anticipatory anxiety 26:55 When your job becomes your identity 30:50 Grieving the life you thought you'd have 33:24 How to support a partner through a layoff 35:23 There is life after layoffs 36:29 Credits 🎙️ GUESTS Heather Kelly — Tech Editor, The San Francisco Standard Claire Bidwell Smith — Author and grief therapist, Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief Plus an anonymous Meta source (voice altered to protect identity) 📬 SHARE YOUR LAYOFF STORY Have you experienced a layoff? How did you cope — mentally, emotionally, and practically? What did you learn that you'd share with others? Email: [email protected] Voicemail: 510-671-5801 🔔 SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW Subscribe to The Standard: sfstandard.com/subscriber Website: sfstandard.com Follow us @SFStandard on all platforms 🎧 CREDITS Host: Emily Dreyfuss Producers: Eddie Sun, Tessa Kramer, Xorje Olivares Editor: Sophie Bearman Engineer: Michelle Lanz Video: Morgan Ellis #TechLayoffs #AI #MetaLayoffs #SiliconValley #PST
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Btw, the translation industry is arguably worse. A ton of translators are losing their jobs.
I am contractor who gets laid off often. It is part of life.
From previous experience if there is a financial crisis the banks will lower the heloc credit to the minimum.
Tech folks are so smart, but then they turn around and go to work for literal supervillains and then cry when supervillains lay them off. Two years later: "I can't find a job with any other supervil;ains". Pfft.
Indian IT is so safe😂
Layoffs are so bad nowadays they laid me off after I retired. lol
This is why I support platforms like yours and GatherVerse. Thank you for caring to broadcast this
Nah they would never lay me off, were a family 🥺
All laid off tech workers should start building small, independent apps. And honestly, people should support them more instead of always giving attention and money to the same big tech giants.
Worked in tech for a decade then got out due to how disillusioning it was. I feel bad for the line workers or the people bamboozled into thinking tech was where it is at. Most workers find out sooner or later how douchy, poorly run, and unempathetic these places are though they pretend to be. An investment bank will at least be upfront about how toxic their work environment is but at least you’ll make a ton of money. Tech tried to pretend they were somehow enlightened and nice places. One upside to all this is that at least people will start to realize that these places aren’t good places to work. Go, make some money and get out while you still have your soul.
500k salaries isn't even 1% of tech industry it's extremely rare
The mica are so sensitive they're picking up all the intimate saliva sounds.
I have 76k in the bank after getting laid off as a software engineer. I have no debt and cash positive...I'm smoking weed, playing guitar and building my own company. Fuck this market.
Everything online is already slop. There is SO MUCH human generated slop on platforms. "Content" is already the sloppification of media
I have been unemployed for over 2 years now. Ageism isn't being discussed because social media and mainstream media are ginning up generational hate for a lot of us born in the 1960s and 70's. Also, I became radioactive. I have not heard from ANY of my so-called work friends, some of whom I have known from various jobs for over 20 years. I am isolated most of the time, except when I go to church or go watch a baseball game at a bar once in a while. If you are over 50 and you lose your job, your chances of finding another tech job for the same salary are nonexistent. All the platitudes in the world are helping me financially.
Where are all those people going to go? There is not enough jobs. That data came in a year or so ago. This issue goes beyond the Bay area and even into Seattle where I've lived most my life. I haven't been able to get back into tech after my team was laid off.
The bottom line is that we are headed over a cliff.
0:30 - Right on! Imagine that it takes for a new employee (Sr. Manager / DIrector level or above) 6 to 8 months to fully understand and comprehend technological, political, technical , product landscape. Then you build the effective organization. Then you build systems. Then you pass all trainings. Then you travel internationally. You put endless nights, evenings,. weekends. Numerous projects - and all is gone. Not relevant. No temporarily location to other job, no temporary salary reduction - just gone! Like you never existed.
Avoid a HELOC at all costs. These, in most cases, are recourse loans. Just my $.02.
RESOURCE SHARE IS THE FUTURE. co-habitation.