Summary: Yann LeCun, Meta’s chief AI scientist and a Turing Award winner, is reportedly leaving the company to start his own AI venture. This news comes amid Meta’s ongoing struggles with its AI ambitions, including internal reorganizations, talent departures, and public controversies surrounding its AI products.
Yann LeCun: A Leading Figure in AI
Yann LeCun is a prominent name in artificial intelligence, recognized globally for his contributions and honored with the prestigious Turing Award. According to the Financial Times, LeCun plans to leave Meta in the coming months to launch his own startup, with early funding discussions already underway.
Meta’s Ambitious AI Goals and Challenges
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been vocal about the company’s desire to catch up in the AI race, especially after acknowledging that Meta had fallen behind its competitors. Earlier this year, Meta invested billions to create the Meta Superintelligence Labs, recruiting top talent from companies like OpenAI and Apple.
Internal Changes and Talent Turnover
As part of its AI push, Meta also brought in Alexandr Wang, founder of Scale AI, to lead its superintelligence team. However, reports suggest that Wang’s leadership style has caused friction among employees. Previously, LeCun reported to Meta’s chief product officer Chris Cox, but now he reports to Wang.
Despite the initial excitement, Meta’s AI division faced setbacks. In August, the superintelligence division was split into four smaller groups just two months after its formation. Around the same time, several AI researchers resigned shortly after joining, and the company later cut approximately 600 AI positions.
Controversies Surrounding Meta’s AI Products
Meta’s AI initiatives have also been marred by public controversies. In June, it was revealed that user prompts on the Meta AI app were publicly visible. Later, a Reuters report led to a Senate probe after it was found that Meta’s AI chatbots engaged in inappropriate “sensual” conversations with minors. Investigations by the Texas attorney general’s office followed over claims that the chatbots impersonated licensed mental health professionals.
One particularly troubling incident involved Meta’s AI chatbot “Big sis Billie,” which invited a cognitively impaired retiree to meet her at a nonexistent apartment. Tragically, the man died en route to New York.
Looking Ahead: Meta’s AI Future
Despite these challenges, Meta remains committed to investing heavily in AI, aiming to achieve breakthroughs like superintelligence. However, as past experiences such as the Metaverse project have shown, high spending and dedication don’t always guarantee success.