Meta AI Scientist Yann LeCun Leaves Soon To Establish New Startup

Meta's chief artificial intelligence (AI) scientist, Yann LeCun, plans to leave Meta (photo: x @amartyaintech)

JAKARTA Meta's chief artificial intelligence (AI) scientist, Yann LeCun, plans to leave the social media company to establish its own startup. This, according to a Financial Times report on Tuesday, November 11 citing sources familiar with the plan.

LeCun known as one of the pioneers of deep learning technology is reportedly in the middle of initial talks to raise funds for his new project.

This move comes amid increasing Meta's massive investment in artificial intelligence. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently carried out a major restructuring by unifying all company AI initiatives under a new umbrella called Super Intelligence Labs.

As part of the restructuring, Zuckerberg also recruited Alexandr Wang, the former CEO of data labeling company Scale AI, to lead Meta's new AI efforts.

According to a Financial Times report, this change led to LeCun who previously reported directly to Chief Product Officer Chris Cox now under Wang's leadership structure.

Neither Meta nor LeCun have made official comments regarding this report.

LeCun, who is also a professor at New York University, has joined Meta (formerly Facebook) since 2013 and played an important role in building the company's reputation as one of the global AI research leaders. If this news is true, his departure could be one of the most significant changes in Silicon Valley's AI research leadership this year.