Meta Platforms Inc. has halted new recruitment in its artificial-intelligence division, according to the Wall Street Journal, which cited company sources and a Meta spokesperson who confirmed the pause. The freeze, which went into effect last week, follows a months-long hiring spree that added more than 50 researchers and engineers to the group. People familiar with the matter told the paper that current employees are also barred from transferring into the AI unit unless they receive explicit approval from Alexandr Wang, who helps oversee the effort. Meta has not specified how long the freeze will last; a spokesperson described the move as “basic organizational planning” aimed at consolidating the newly built team. The decision comes amid investor concerns about the scale of Meta’s stock-based compensation and other costs tied to its aggressive push into generative AI. After rapidly expanding headcount to compete with Alphabet, Amazon and Microsoft, the company is now signaling a period of cost discipline even as demand for AI talent remains intense across the technology sector.