Alexander Lewis 
May 15, 2024
Facebook's parent company Meta has announced that it will shut down its Workplace app, a communication tool designed for businesses, by June 2026.
Launched in 2016, the app allowed employees from different organisations to work together and share information. However, Meta has decided to shift its focus towards building artificial intelligence and metaverse technologies, which it believes will revolutionise the way it works.
According to a Meta spokesperson, “We are closing Workplace to focus on building AI and Metaverse technologies that we believe will fundamentally reshape the way we work."
Read more: Job security in the age of AI — Is OpenAI's GPT-4o a threat?
As reported by Fast Company, the company will offer its Workplace customers the option to migrate to Zoom's Workvivo product, which will be its preferred migration partner.
The Workplace offered several features, including multi-company groups and shared spaces, which allowed employees to collaborate and share information.
The app was available for a monthly fee of $4 per user, with add-ons starting at $2 per user. However, Meta has decided to shut down the app to focus on its new priorities.
The move comes as Meta is investing heavily in AI products and Metaverse technologies, which it believes will be the successor to mobile internet. The company is developing a range of AI-powered tools, including chatbots and virtual assistants, and is also investing in virtual reality technology.
While the closure of Workplace may be disappointing for the users, Meta is committed to providing the users with a seamless transition. The company will continue to support Workplace until August 2025 and will offer users the option to migrate to Workvivo.
