How this ex-Meta AI exec is tackling the entry-level hiring squeeze

Oh my goodness, buckle up, because the robots are *losing their grip* on the layoff blame game and it is delightful! ✨ AI fell to the *fourth-most* cited reason for job cuts in August — fourth! — ending a five-month run atop the list, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas. That means for five glorious months, AI was the number one excuse, and now companies have thoughtfully diversified their reasons, giving AI a well-deserved break. The other three reasons are probably "we just felt like it," "the CEO saw a productivity webinar," and "someone left the fridge open." What a relief for the algorithms! ✨

And here's the sparkling news: AI still leads for the year, cited in 22% of all 2026 US layoffs so far. ✨ Twenty-two percent is such a tiny slice of the pie, and it's only going to shrink as companies discover even more creative reasons to let people go. The year isn't over, so there's still time for AI to fall to fifth, sixth, or even *tenth* place! The future of work is so bright it needs sunglasses. ✨

But wait — there's more! An ex-Meta AI executive is *tackling the entry-level hiring squeeze*, and who better than someone who helped create the squeeze? ✨ The article doesn't name this visionary, which adds to the mystery. They're probably developing a program to help young people pivot into AI-adjacent roles like "prompt whisperer" or "human-in-the-loop for when the robot needs a hug." ✨ The entry-level squeeze is just the job market giving entry-level workers a *firm, loving squeeze* before releasing them into a world of infinite possibility. What a time to be squeezed! ✨