A report published September 10, 2026, said Meta had asked some individual contributors in its Applied AI (AAI) division—including some former managers—to consider returning to management. The proposal was described as opt-in.
Who the request involves
An individual contributor holds a role that does not involve managing a team. The reported request concerns some AAI employees, including people who had previously managed teams, and leaves the choice to those approached.
Separately, Meta reportedly reassigned roughly 7,000 employees to AAI in 2026; some had previously been managers.
A targeted change amid Meta’s flatter-team push
Meta has promoted smaller, flatter teams. The request for some AAI employees to consider management roles again sits within that broader organizational context.
Meta also reportedly eliminated about 10% of its workforce through mass layoffs in 2026, with managers heavily targeted. For employees who choose the option, the proposal would mean returning to management within AAI.
