US Judge Allows Meta to Lay Off 26 Employees Who Alleged AI Bias

A federal judge in the United States has ruled that Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, can proceed with the layoffs of 26 employees. The workers had sued the company, claiming that the job cuts were driven by artificial intelligence that discriminated against them. They asked the court to stop the layoffs while their case was being heard, but the judge denied this emergency request. The judge said that for now, there was not enough evidence to prove that AI was used in a discriminatory way. However, he added that the court might review the issue again if new evidence emerges later. Meta has denied any wrongdoing, insisting that the decisions about which employees to lay off were made by people, not by AI. The lawsuit is part of a broader debate about how companies use AI in hiring and firing. Many workers are concerned that automated systems might make unfair decisions. For now, Meta can continue with its planned workforce reduction. The case will proceed, and the judge will hear more arguments in the coming months.