Layoffs: Was it really about AI investment or something else?

Just heard about the latest round of layoffs at Meta, 8000 people gone. The news is spinning it as Zuckerberg pouring money into AI, cutting headcount to fund that. Seems like a convenient narrative, right? I've also been seeing a lot of chatter, lawsuits even, about how the decisions were made. Claims that some sort of automated system, not humans, picked who got the chop. And whispers that people who took medical leave or parental leave were flagged. If that's true, it's beyond messed up. It feels like they're using technology to be even more ruthless than before, finding ways to cut costs without facing the 'human' element of firing people. Anyone on the inside have any more clarity on what actually went down? Was it purely a strategic shift to AI, or are these discrimination claims hitting closer to the truth? It's hard to know what to believe when the company's official story and the employee experiences seem so far apart. Feeling for everyone impacted, especially if the reasons are as dubious as some suggest.