Meta's Reality Labs Layoffs Show the Harsh Pivot From Virtual Reality to AI

Meta's Reality Labs layoffs show the harsh pivot from virtual reality to AI

For a company that rebranded towards creating a virtual reality metaverse, Meta Platforms is certainly taking a sharp pivot towards the apparent next big thing: artificial intelligence. The company laid off 10% of its Reality Labs division — about 1,000 jobs according to CNBC or 1,500 jobs if you read the Wall Street Journal — earlier in January, with VR games studios Twisted Pixel, Armature Studio, and Sanzaru closed. Its VR game platform Horiz…

VR experts say that Meta's pullback is "concerning" in the short term

Experts from the world of virtual reality have described Meta's decision to close three studios and make layoffs to its metaverse-focused Reality Labs division as "concerning".