Meta’s artificial intelligence acceleration will see one employee do the work of manyTech giant Meta announces artificial intelligence breakthrough that could eliminate the need for large teams, replaced by just one person.Hannah Wilcox2 min readFebruary 2, 2026 - 10:12AMOne of the world’s largest tech giants has announced its investment in artificial intelligence now allows one employee to do the work that once required a large team.During last week’s earnings call, Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg said a “major AI acceleration” has kicked off, with further growth predicted for 2026.“We’re starting to see agents really work,” he said. “This will unlock the ability to build completely new products and transform how we work.”Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, revealed one person is able to do the job of a large team thanks to AI advancement. Picture: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFPA day later, Mr Zuckerberg revealed the company is investing in more AI-related tools to ‘elevate individual contributors and flatten teams’, Business Insider reported.“We’re starting to see projects that used to require big teams now be accomplished by a single very talented person,” he said during a recent earnings call with analysts.“I want to make sure that as many of these very talented people as possible choose Meta as the place that they can make the greatest impact.”The company plans to boost AI spending by between 60 per cent and 87 per cent this year, with as much as $135 billion predicted to be invested in capital spending as Meta focuses on building and expanding AI technologies.Have your say in The Great Aussie Debate. Take the survey here: Last year, the company announced a major overhaul in its AI program and slashed hundreds of jobs just months after the company went on a multi-billion dollar hiring spree.It cut around 600 roles in its artificial intelligence division, Superintelligence Labs.The job cuts were first reported by Axios, with an internal memo reportedly sent to staff by Meta chief AI officer Alexandr Wang stating: “By reducing the size of our team, fewer conversations will be required to make a decision, and each person will be more load-bearing and have more scope and impact.”Meta’s adoption of tiny teams – a strategy popular in the start-up world which has seen jobs drastically cut in favour of AI automation – is not unusual.In February 2024, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman predicted the trend would take hold.“We’re going to see 10-person companies with billion-dollar valuations pretty soon,” he said at the time. “In my little group chat with my tech CEO friends, there’s this betting pool for the first year there is a one-person billion-dollar company, which would’ve been unimaginable without AI. “And now [it] will happen.”In February 2024, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman predicted the tiny teams trend would quickly pick up within the tech sector. Picture: iStockWhile their companies adopt AI over the next few years, Aussie CEOs have picked junior roles as the job category most in jeopardy.The Global CEO Survey released this month by PwC showed Australian business leaders are unusually confident about the economy, but also expecting plenty of workplace disruption.More Coverage‘Game changer’: Aussies use AI to shopCameron Micallef‘Civil unrest’: CEO’s scary AI job predictionHannah WilcoxAlmost 50 per cent were “very/extremely confident” in revenue growth over the next 12 months, compared with 30 per cent globally.More than half of Aussie CEOs expected junior roles to be slashed due to AI adoption, however.Asked how their company’s AI adoption would change employment levels in the next three years, 52 per cent believed junior roles would decrease, while 32 per cent expected a reduction in mid-level roles, and 11 per cent expected a reduction in senior-level roles.More related storiesAt WorkHistoric 4-day week for 600 Aussie workersAn Australian council has agreed in principle to a four-day work week, with employees receiving 100 per cent of five-day salaries.Read moreAt WorkWhat working at an office can do to your faceYour job might be written all over your face, with one ex-finance worker’s viral revelation showing how work literally changes your appearance.Read moreAt Work18yo tradie loses arm to ‘everyday’ machineA ‘quiet and passionate’ 18-year-old apprentice has suffered a devastating workplace injury, as parents’ issue a desperate plea to every AussieRead more