AI & Jobs AI21 Labs Cuts 60%+ of Its Workforce, May 18: 180 Employees Down to ~70, Discontinues the Jamba Standalone-Model Line, Pivots Whole Company to Maestro Agent Orchestration After Nebius Acquisition Collapses Into a Commercial Deal — Shashua, Shoham, Goshen's 2017 Foundation-Model Bet Hits the One-Cycle Mark Where Selling Models Alone 「Was Not a Sufficiently Sustainable Revenue Stream」
AI21 cut from ~180 to ~70 staff on May 18, killed its standalone-model business, and pivoted everything to Maestro. The Nebius acquisition that was supposed to be the exit became a customer contract.