Moyan Chen, a 24 year old data scientist at Meta, lost her job in May 2026 after less than a year at the company. She reportedly said the layoff was difficult but also brought relief after weeks of anxiety. Rumours of job cuts had been circulating since March, and employees feared announcements on Wednesdays. As a result, Tuesdays were spent in anxiety by most and wondering there would still be employed the next day. On 20 May, Chen was among those laid off and she actually felt calmed as it put an end to months of uncertainty and fear as was reportedly revealed by a BI article.
It is Chen’s belief that AI played a role in reshaping her job. Routine tasks such as writing queries, creating visualisations, and analysing basic data are now handled by AI tools, reducing the value of traditional data science skills. She explained that future data scientists will need broader knowledge, combining technical skills with business and product understanding.
The layoff made her question the stability of big tech jobs. Many of her colleagues are also searching for new roles, posting updates online. She compared the industry to a fast moving ship facing an AI storm, where workers must decide whether to stay or move to slower changing fields.
Chen said Meta’s severance package gives her time to rethink her career. She is exploring options such as returning to China, joining an AI startup, or pursuing career coaching. While startups carry risks, she believes staying in traditional analytics roles could be riskier in the longer term.
Her experience highlights how AI is changing the workplace, pushing professionals to adapt quickly and rethink career paths.
