Title: Meta’s Longest-Serving Executive Discusses AI, Employment, and Leadership

Nearly two decades ago, Naomi Gleit joined Meta as its 29th employee, marking the beginning of a tenure that now makes her the company’s longest-serving staff member, excluding founder Mark Zuckerberg. At just 21 years old, Gleit joined Zuckerberg when the company was merely a fledgling startup. Over the years, she has witnessed Facebook evolve into the tech behemoth known as Meta, navigating through numerous controversies and turbulent periods. Currently serving as the head of product, Gleit described her role at Meta to the BBC as a "dream job," though she admitted her family required some convincing at the time. She recalled with a laugh that her mother was initially disappointed in her choice, preferring that she work for Lehman Brothers, the investment bank that collapsed in 2008 and sparked the global financial crisis.

While Meta has remained resilient, it has faced significant challenges, including privacy breaches, allegations of election interference, issues regarding teen mental health, and the spread of harmful content online. Gleit conceded that there were instances where the company fell short of its own standards. However, she expressed pride in the organization’s achievements and argued that the infamous motto "move fast and break things" was often misunderstood when viewed in isolation.

Gleit also addressed Zuckerberg’s public image, describing his reputation as a "tech bro villain" as unfair. Critics often view him as a cold, ruthless executive, a perception reinforced by media portrayals. For instance, actor Jesse Eisenberg, who played Zuckerberg in the 2010 film The Social Network, recently told the BBC he wished to distance himself from the founder and his "problematic" actions. Meanwhile, Jeremy Strong, who starred in Succession, is set to depict Zuckerberg as a more calculating and powerful leader in the upcoming sequel, The Social Reckoning.

Despite these external perceptions, Gleit emphasized the stark contrast between public opinion and reality. "I think that the difference between what people think of Mark and how Mark actually is, is huge," she stated. She highlighted his personal qualities, noting that he is a devoted husband and father to three children, and expressed admiration for his growth as a leader. When asked about his management style, Gleit paused briefly before describing him as "awesome," a comment she jokingly noted her team might bring up during her performance review.

During a recent visit to the UK from Meta’s US headquarters, Gleit discussed the company’s latest major innovation: AI agents. These advanced tools go beyond simple chatbots; they can execute complex tasks independently. Gleit characterized these agents as "superpowers" for small businesses, with Meta planning to integrate them into WhatsApp, a platform used by 3.5 billion people globally, including hundreds of millions of business accounts. Meta intends to charge businesses for the service, allowing AI agents to manage customer interactions around the clock and provide valuable business insights.

"We're really focused on what businesses need, and what they tell us is they're getting so many messages from people," Gleit explained. She suggested that AI agents would be more effective than current tools in helping companies handle and communicate with their customer base.

However, the rise of AI agents has sparked concerns regarding reliability and safety. Earlier this week, Meta patched a vulnerability that allowed hackers to manipulate an Instagram AI support tool into granting access to other users' accounts. Gleit clarified that this specific issue was not related to the agent’s core functionality and reiterated that safety remains the company’s primary focus.

She argued that this technology is particularly beneficial for small enterprises, providing them with access to customer insights that were previously accessible only to large corporations with the resources to hire extensive support staff. When addressing the potential impact on employment, Gleit acknowledged that AI will undoubtedly "transform" the workforce but remained optimistic about the future.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-04 23:05:39 UTC