Meta Is in Crisis, Google Search’s Makeover, and AI Gets Booed by Graduates

A noteworthy advance is shaping the AI sector: Brian BarrettZoë SchifferLeah FeigerBusinessMay 21, 2026 4:44 PMMeta Is in Crisis, Google Search’s Makeover, and AI Gets Booed by GraduatesIn this episode of Uncanny Valley, we unpack the mass layoffs at Meta, big announcements at Google I/O, and the latest backlash against AI. Photo-Illustration: WIRED Staff; David Paul Morris/Getty Images Save this story Save this storyThis week on Uncanny Valley, the team discusses Meta’s recent layoffs and what they’ve been hearing from employees about the increasingly grim vibes at the company. They also talk about Elon Musk losing his lawsuit against OpenAI and share highlights from Google’s annual conference—including an ambitious AI vision to change how people search the web.

Finally, what do recent college graduates and women whose spouses work in AI have in common? They’re all sick of hearing about it. Articles mentioned in this episode:Meta’s New Reality: Record High Profits.

Technical Details

Record Low MoraleEverything Announced at Google I/O 2026: Gemini, Search, Smart GlassesGoogle Search Goes Agentic—and Doesn’t Need You AnymoreMeet the Sad Wives of AIYou can follow Brian Barrett on Bluesky at @brbarrett, Zoë Schiffer on Bluesky at @zoeschiffer, and Leah Feiger on Bluesky at @leahfeiger. How to ListenYou can always listen to this week's podcast through the audio player on this page, but if you want to subscribe for free to get every episode, here's how:If you're on an iPhone or iPad, open the app called Podcasts, or just tap this link. You can also download an app like Overcast or Pocket Casts and search for “uncanny valley.

” We’re on Spotify too. TranscriptNote: This is an automated transcript, which may contain errors. Zoë Schiffer: Welcome to WIRED's Uncanny Valley.

I'm Zoë Schiffer, director of business and industry. Brian Barrett: I'm Brian Barrett, executive editor. Leah Feiger: And I'm Leah Feiger, director of politics and science.

Industry Implications

Brian Barrett: And we're all in the same room—Zoë Schiffer: Oh, my God. Brian Barrett: —for the first time from the podcast. Zoë Schiffer: Same room.

Leah Feiger: I got invited to the group chat. Zoë Schiffer: You did. Brian Barrett: Look at that.

Uncanny Valley hosts Zoë Schiffer, Brian Barrett, and Leah Feiger. Photograph: WIREDZoë Schiffer: Today on the show, we're discussing the complete meltdown over mass layoffs at Meta. We spoke to more than a dozen employees and it turns out the job cuts are far from the only reason why Meta employees are really going through it.

The development is set to intensify competition in the AI space, experts say.