Meta is inviting some employees to return to management roles after a recent reshuffle of its Applied AI department, which was established earlier this year to oversee AI model training. About 7,000 employees were moved into the division, including some former managers who lost management responsibilities after the transfer. The role changes are voluntary and mark a partial shift from Meta’s recent push to reduce middle management and operate with smaller teams and fewer layers. Meta cut its workforce by about 10% this year through large-scale layoffs, with managers among the main targets. Some employees moved into Applied AI had complained they were “drafted” into the unit and were later allowed to leave.