Meta Sued Over AI Layoffs: Discrimination Claims Emerge

A bombshell lawsuit accuses Meta of using artificial intelligence to single out employees with medical conditions for layoffs. 26 workers, filing anonymously in federal court, claim the tech giant's AI systems unfairly targeted those with disabilities, pregnancies, or caregiving responsibilities. According to the complaint, Meta used tools like the Metamate large language model assistant and a second brain that monitored emails, keystrokes, and browsing history to generate productivity scores. Employees who took medical leave or had caregiving duties saw their recorded activity drop, making them more likely to be flagged for termination. The layoffs, affecting nearly 8,000 people globally, were announced in May and are set to begin July 22nd. The plaintiffs are asking a judge to halt the cuts while their discrimination claims proceed through arbitration. Meta denies the allegations, with a spokesperson insisting that workforce management decisions were and are made by people, not AI. Legal experts say this could be the first major US lawsuit challenging the use of AI in selecting employees for layoffs, a case that may set a precedent for how algorithms are used in hiring and firing. Critics warn that AI-driven decisions can replicate human biases or create new forms of discrimination, especially ...