Meta reverses mandatory AI training team assignment for engineers

Meta has backed down from its policy of forcing engineers to join an AI training task force. The company had previously reassigned 7,000 employees to work on its new AI model. In an internal memo on Wednesday, Meta said it would now respect each employee's personal choice to stay or leave. The memo stressed that choice is key to all Meta opportunities. This change comes after employee backlash, with many engineers calling the work boring data labeling. Meta's CTO admitted morale is at an all-time low. In May, Meta laid off 10% of its staff, or about 8,000 people.