X’s head of product sparked debate after revealing the platform operates with a 30-member core team, drawing comparisons with Big Tech rivals. Elon Musk later clarified that additional engineers from xAI support the platform’s AI-driven systems
A disclosure by a senior executive at X has set off a fresh debate over staffing levels in Big Tech, after he revealed that the social media platform’s core product team comprises just 30 people.
Nikita Bier, head of product at X, made the remark while responding to user complaints about the removal of the platform’s “dim mode” interface. Explaining why X could not maintain multiple colour themes, Bier said the team did not have the bandwidth to support more than two design variants.
“We don’t have the capacity to support more than two colors right now. But feedback noted: we are looking into lightening the black on web,” Bier wrote on the platform.
The comment prompted incredulity among users who questioned how a global platform serving hundreds of millions could operate with such a lean team. Bier responded by contrasting X’s staffing with that of larger rivals.
“Team Size Meta: 87,000; Microsoft: 221,000; Google: 190,000; X: 30,” he wrote, adding that the 30-member group includes engineers, two designers and “1.5 product managers.”
The comparison—particularly with Meta Platforms— went viral, reviving scrutiny of owner Elon Musk’s aggressive cost-cutting strategy since he acquired the company, then known as Twitter, in a $44 billion deal in 2022.
Musk clarifies
Musk later sought to clarify that the 30-person figure refers specifically to X’s core product team. He said an additional group of engineers from xAI — his artificial intelligence venture — also supports the platform, particularly on AI-driven recommendations and algorithmic systems.
“There are another 30 or so xAI engineers working on the pure AI-based recommendation system,” Musk wrote.
From mass layoffs to a leaner model
Musk’s takeover triggered one of Silicon Valley’s sharpest workforce reductions. Within days of completing the acquisition, he laid off roughly half of Twitter’s 7,500 employees, citing daily losses of more than $4 million. By 2023, Musk said headcount had fallen to around 1,500 — an 80 per cent reduction from pre-acquisition levels.
Since then, X has introduced paid verification tiers, revenue-sharing programmes for creators and a steady stream of product tweaks, part of Musk’s broader ambition to transform the platform into a multi-service “everything app” spanning content, payments and artificial intelligence.
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