AI21 cuts over 60% of staff, shifts focus to Maestro platform
AI21 Labs is laying off over 60% of its workforce, reducing its staff from 180 to approximately 70 employees. The company is shifting its focus from standalone language models to its AI agent management platform, Maestro. This restructuring follows the collapse of acquisition talks with Nebius, leading to a new commercial partnership instead.
- ▪AI21 Labs is cutting approximately 110 employees, leaving around 70 staff members.
- ▪The company will no longer sell standalone language models and will concentrate on the Maestro platform.
- ▪The restructuring comes after failed acquisition talks with Nebius, which resulted in a commercial partnership worth millions.
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| Original publisher | Crypto Briefing |
| Canonical URL | https://cryptobriefing.com/ai21-layoffs-maestro-platform-pivot/ |
| Publication time | Mon, 18 May 2026 11:28:11 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-18T11:34:56.486Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-18T11:34:56.486Z |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
<img src="https://static.cryptobriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/18072810/amnon-shashua-s-ai-firm-cuts-over-60-of-staff-after-sale-tal-1-800x420.jpeg" alt="AI21 cuts over 60% of staff, shifts focus to Maestro platform" class="w-full aspect-[19/10] object-cover" /> AI21 cuts over 60% of staff, shifts focus to Maestro platform The Israeli AI firm is laying off roughly 110 employees and abandoning standalone language models after acquisition talks with Nebius fell apart. Share Add us on Google by Editorial Team May. 18, 2026 AI21 Labs, the Israeli AI company once positioned as a serious contender in the large language model race, is slashing its workforce by more than 60%.
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