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A comment on A long expected update (probablistic programming langauge team laid off). Parent comment

Re:A long expected update (probablistic programming langauge... by blitz_skull on Wednesday November 30, 2022 @03:53PM (#33807508)
Just staring at facts on paper... It sounds like Facebook has no interest in cutting costs since they cut a team that reduced the cost of every single team they interacted with. By a large multiple of whatever it cost to have that team employed.

Regardless of your take on the "Metaverse", it's clear that this was in fact, not the best thing for everyone.

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Re:A long expected update (probablistic programming langauge... by woah on Wednesday November 30, 2022 @04:13PM (#33807786)
How much money did it save? How much was this in savings after paying their salaries? Article doesn't say. If they were breaking even, or barely "profitable", then maybe it wasn't worth the management overhead, especially with a team lead vehemently opposed to the company's focus.
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Re:A long expected update (probablistic programming langauge... by ericlippert on Wednesday November 30, 2022 @06:57PM (#33809934)
We were a team of mathematicians focused on cost savings and improving decisions. We know how to subtract costs from benefits.

I was not the lead.

A team focused on helping the company make better decisions is all the more necessary when attempting a pivot.

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