Social media giant Meta on Thursday announced plans to lay off about 8,000 employees, or about 10% of its workforce, as it seeks to scale up development of artificial intelligence (AI) applications. The owner of social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, along with the messaging app Whatsapp, said in an internal memo that the first round of cuts is due on May 20. Along with the cuts, Meta said 6,000 further posts would be left unfilled. Also on Thursday, US media reported that tech giant Microsoft was planning to offer voluntary early retirement buyouts for around 8.700 workers, or about 7% of its workforce. Massive AI investment  The job cuts come as both companies increase spending on developing AI applications . Meta has announced plans to develop "personal superintelligence," which CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said will tailor AI agents to the needs and wishes of individual users.…