Meta is developing a photorealistic AI version of Mark Zuckerberg to converse with employees and offer feedback, as the company deepens its internal AI push, tests workers through AI exercises and faces fresh concern over potential layoffs

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The420 Web Desk
3 Min Read

Meta is developing a photorealistic, AI powered 3D version of chief executive Mark Zuckerberg designed to converse with employees and offer feedback, in a project that reflects the company’s broader effort to build interactive avatars based on public figures.

The initiative, reported by the Financial Times, is part of a wider push inside Meta to create real time avatar based products for customers. The project comes as the company is also pressing staff to make greater use of AI tools and testing workers through AI focused exercises, moves that have fuelled concerns over future job cuts.

An AI Avatar for the Chief Executive

The reported system would create a digital stand in for Zuckerberg using a large body of imagery of the executive and his voice. The effort is said to be personally overseen by Zuckerberg, who is reportedly spending five to ten hours a week on vibe coding.

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Staff are also said to be working on a separate and reportedly unrelated project to develop a CEO agent that would allow employees to retrieve information more quickly. Together, the efforts point to a deeper attempt by Meta to embed AI into internal communication and workplace processes.

Concerns Over Cost and Practical Use

Questions have also been raised over whether the latest avatar push will succeed. The reported plan could place further strain on computing resources, with concerns inside the company that it may become a major resource burden.

The wider concept has already struggled to gain traction with the public. Meta previously tried to recreate public figures through AI, including a 2023 effort in which celebrities were paid to become chatbots. That project was later shut down, after drawing criticism and as the chatbots made questionable claims on behalf of their human counterparts. Reports said such chatbot comments continued well into 2025.

AI Push Meets Workforce Anxiety

The initiative is emerging alongside a broader internal drive to expand the use of AI across the company. Zuckerberg told investors during a January earnings call that Meta could get more done by investing in AI native tooling while elevating individual contributors and flattening teams.

Recent reports have also said the company was planning sweeping layoffs that could affect at least 20 percent or more of its workforce. Product managers are said to be putting staff through AI focused skills baseline and vibe coding exercises, adding to fears about further cuts. For employees who remain, the prospect of having to turn to a digital version of Zuckerberg for answers may become part of a workplace already being reshaped by AI.

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