# Explosive! Meta Starts Laying Off Programmers, But What's Really Terrifying Isn't the Layoffs

These past few days, a bombshell hit the tech world. Meta is preparing to lay off 20% of its workforce—close to 15,000 people.

The company is pouring money into AI, so it needs to cut labor costs.

In plain language: replace humans with machines.

This layoff is completely different from the past. Previously, layoffs happened because the economy was bad.

Now, layoffs are happening because AI is too powerful. I remember just a few years ago, everyone unanimously believed that AI's impact on employment was still far in the future. Turns out it's now right around the corner.

Meta spends over $100 billion a year on AI infrastructure—the costs are astronomical, so they have to cut people.

The key thing is, the pandemic gave all bosses an insight: they discovered they don't need that many people anymore.

Over the past 20 years, programming has been one of the safest professions. Back in 2016, I had a PhD guest tell me that programmers were researching programs that could write programs to replace programmers. It sounds a bit tongue-twisting, but I thought then—how far away is that? And now, after about a decade, it's essentially mature.

AI can write code, AI can debug, AI can even auto-complete complex tasks.

Recently, Manus, an AI agent that blew up after being acquired by Meta, can already decompose tasks and execute workflows on its own.

This means productivity is being reshaped. What used to take a team of 10 people, now 2 people + AI might be enough.

Many people think: "Layoffs are just short-term fluctuations." If you think that, you're naive.

Because companies are making a very rational decision: replace long-term costs (people) with one-time investment (AI).

Once this replacement happens, it's irreversible.

Do you think all programmers are anxious? Not really. There's a group of people who started transforming 3-5 years ago.

Over these years, we've constantly had programmers transition to Amazon selling. A couple years ago, I kept saying programmers selling on Amazon had basically found an ATM.

Because the Amazon industry is mainly junior college graduates, even bachelor's degree holders are usually liberal arts or business majors—their IQ is definitely inferior to high-IQ programmers.

So when high-IQ programmers enter, it's like Tian Ji's Horse Racing—a dimensional advantage over other sellers.

Plus, programmers more easily understand systems that seem "rigid and unreasonable."

Why do they all transition to Amazon?

Because they figured it out: writing code is essentially "working a job." No matter how high the salary, it's still selling time. AI will eventually compress the technology premium, and programmers' "scarcity" is declining. Amazon is "asset-based income"—one product can sell for years, one link can keep generating sales.

These two types of programmers have completely different futures.

**First type:** competing with AI on efficiency. People still grinding on technology, working late writing code, learning new frameworks. These people are essentially competing with AI tools on efficiency. Do you think you can win? The harder you work, the more anxious you become.

**Second type:** already transformed to using AI to make money for themselves. Using tech for automated product research, using AI to generate listings, using systems to do Amazon. Let AI make money for you.

What are many programmers doing now? Using AI to boost work efficiency.

But what are companies doing? Using AI to reduce headcount.

The future won't be about "can you write code or not." It's whether you work for AI or make money with AI.

Meta's layoffs aren't bad news. They're just telling you early: the old era is over.

If you're still using the old logic—find a stable job, improve your skills, trade them for higher salary—you'll find it increasingly difficult.

But if you've already started building your own income system, using AI to amplify commercial ability, then this wave is an opportunity.

Crisis or opportunity really just comes down to your own choice in a single moment.

Farsighted people don't transform "after being replaced." They switch tracks when others still feel safe.

It's like selling property: did you sell before 2019, or wait until after 2023?