Meta Replaces Metaverse Products Chief Months After October 2025 Reshuffle as AI Capex Hits $145 Billion
Updated
Updated · Business Insider · Jun 4
Meta Replaces Metaverse Products Chief Months After October 2025 Reshuffle as AI Capex Hits $145 Billion
2 articles · Updated · Business Insider · Jun 4
Summary
Gabriel Aul retired after only a few months leading Meta's metaverse products group, and Saxs Persson has now taken over, according to an internal memo.
February marked Aul's retirement announcement; he stayed briefly as an adviser and fully left Meta last month, while the memo says Persson will also fully assume leadership of Horizon.
October 2025 had already reshaped the unit: Aul was elevated then, former metaverse chief Vishal Shah moved to Meta's superintelligence effort, and Persson joined from Epic Games.
Reality Labs has faced deeper retrenchment since then, including substantial layoffs in March and a brief decision to end Horizon support on VR headsets before Meta reversed course.
Meta still says the metaverse remains part of its long-term computing strategy, even as it shifts investment toward AI and raises 2026 capital spending to $125 billion-$145 billion.