The New York Times
The New York Times
Soundtrack to 8,000 Job Cuts: A Meta Worker’s Layoff-Themed A.I. Songs

Soundtrack to 8,000 Job Cuts: A Meta Worker’s Layoff-Themed A.I. Songs

The New York Times

The New York Times

Soundtrack to 8,000 Job Cuts: A Meta Worker’s Layoff-Themed A.I. Songs

Thu, 21 May 2026 01:30:15 GMT
Soundtrack to 8,000 Job Cuts: A Meta Worker’s Layoff-Themed A.I. Songs

The worker used Meta’s own A.I. tools to create an internal radio station that plays A.I.-generated songs about the job cuts, according to internal posts and recordings of the songs that were obtained by The New York Times, as well as interviews with about a dozen employees. The employee announced the station, called “520 FM” — a sendup of the May 20 date for the layoffs — in an internal post using language that mimicked the institutional voice of Meta’s human resources department.

“We realize many of you are experiencing elevated anxiety,” wrote the worker, whom other employees declined to name for fear of retaliation. “To support you through this transition, we’ve launched an A.I.-native initiative: Meta 520 FM — a 24/7 internal radio station featuring original curated anthems alongside multiple genres to support your diverse coping preferences.”