Meta sued over AI layoff bias

Twenty-six current and former Meta Platforms employees filed a lawsuit in federal court in Oakland, United States — California, alleging that Meta used AI-powered tools to select employees for layoffs, disproportionately targeting workers with disabilities, those on medical or family leave, and pregnant employees. The lawsuit claims Meta's AI systems, including the 'Metamate' large language model and productivity tracking dashboards, failed to account for protected leave, leading to discrimination. Meta denied the allegations, stating that workforce decisions were made by people, not AI. The plaintiffs seek to halt the layoffs and request an independent audit of the AI selection process. The case highlights growing concerns about AI bias in employment decisions.