• Meta has frozen hiring in its AI division, calling it basic organizational planning.
• The freeze affects both new hiring and internal team transfers within the AI division.
• This decision comes amid concerns over rapid investment in competing AI technologies.
• Meta plans to reorganize its AI teams into four focused groups under its Superintelligence Labs.
• Despite the freeze, a Meta AI executive affirmed that investments in AI will continue.

Meta Platforms has officially halted hiring within its artificial intelligence division, following the addition of over 50 new researchers and engineers. The company described the move as part of "basic organizational planning" to create a solid framework for its "superintelligence" initiatives after completing a significant recruitment phase, according to Business Insider and Dawn.

In detail, the hiring freeze, which took effect recently, also prohibits current employees from transferring between teams within the AI division. The exact duration of the freeze has not been communicated to employees, a situation that has raised questions amid ongoing scrutiny of Meta's spending priorities in AI, according to SFGate.

The hiring pause aligns with Meta's fourth restructuring effort in just six months, as the company moves to establish new teams focused on various aspects of AI development. Reports indicate that these teams will include a dedicated unit for "superintelligence" alongside others geared towards product development, infrastructure, and long-term research, based on information from Business Insider and Dawn.

Despite restrictions, Alexandr Wang, Meta's chief AI officer, publicly countered the narrative of a hiring slowdown, asserting that the company continues to invest heavily in its Superintelligence Labs. This duality reflects the intense competition in the tech industry for AI talent amidst fears of an "AI bubble," which has led to major financial fluctuations within the sector, according to SFGate.