A top-rated Meta worker was laid off, and she wonders if AI chose her

A former Meta employee who was praised as a top performer for five years was laid off this past spring. She now wonders whether an AI system or an algorithm helped decide that she should go. Her story is the starting point for a Fast Company piece on how companies are leaning on AI and software during what it calls the "forever layoffs" era.

What happened

According to the article's opening, her managers had celebrated her work for five years. Her performance rating never fell below "exceeds expectations." She had also received a rare equity award, which is a grant of company stock, in recognition of her results. Then she was laid off without ceremony. She was stunned.

Why it matters

The story points to a worry many workers share. A strong record may not be enough to keep a job. If companies use algorithms to help pick who goes, the reasons may not be clear to the people affected. The piece frames this as part of a wider pattern in corporate America, where layoffs keep coming and technology is increasingly part of the process.

What is not known

The available material does not say whether AI was actually used in her case. It does not say how Meta chose who to lay off, or how many people were affected. Meta's response is not included either. Her question remains a question, not a confirmed finding.

What to do

• Keep a personal record of your results, ratings and awards.
• Ask your employer how it decides who stays when it cuts jobs.
• Do not assume good reviews alone will protect your role.