Mark Zuckerberg has proposed an internal AI hackathon at Meta, according to people familiar with the matter. The suggestion comes as the company faces growing employee discontent over layoffs and restructuring that have reshaped the workplace over the past year.
Why the Hackathon
The idea is meant to jumpstart new ideas around artificial intelligence, a priority Zuckerberg has repeatedly highlighted in company-wide meetings. Hackathons have long been a tradition at Meta, but this one would focus specifically on AI products and features. Employees would be given time to build prototypes and pitch them to leadership.
The proposal hasn't been formally announced to all staff. But it's already circulating internally, and some teams have started discussing how they might participate. The company declined to comment on the plan.
The Pushback Context
Meta has cut thousands of jobs since late 2022 as part of what Zuckerberg called the company's “year of efficiency.” Those cuts hit engineering, product, and support teams hard. Survivors of the layoffs have described a shift in culture — less risk-taking, more pressure to show results, and a lingering sense of uncertainty.
Internal surveys have shown a decline in employee confidence in leadership. Some staff members have publicly questioned the company's direction on platforms like Blind and even in internal forums. The AI hackathon proposal lands in that atmosphere.
Balancing Innovation and Morale
The challenge for Meta is clear: it wants to stay competitive in the race for generative AI, where rivals like OpenAI and Google are moving fast. But pushing for more innovation while employees are still recovering from layoffs can backfire. Some workers see the hackathon as another demand on their time, rather than a creative outlet.
Others may welcome the chance to work on something new. In past years, hackathons at Meta produced features like the “Like” button and Facebook Live. The company is betting that a focused AI event could do the same.
None of this will be easy. The hackathon, if it happens, will test whether Zuckerberg can rally a workforce that's been through a lot — and whether the promise of building something new is enough to quiet the grumbling.
