Meta’s AI chief Yann LeCun is leaving to start his own AI venture, signaling a shift in Meta’s research vision as Zuckerberg restructures his superintelligence strategy.
Meta’s AI Vision Faces a Shake-Up
In a surprising twist for the tech world, Yann LeCun, Meta’s legendary Chief AI Scientist and one of the brightest minds in artificial intelligence, is reportedly stepping away from the company. According to The Financial Times, LeCun plans to launch his own AI startup, marking the end of a decade-long era at Meta.
The move comes amid a massive internal restructuring led by Mark Zuckerberg, who’s steering Meta toward a bold new direction through the recently formed Meta Superintelligence Labs.
A Pioneer with a Vision Beyond Chatbots
LeCun, who’s been at the helm of Meta’s Fundamental AI Research Lab (FAIR) since 2013, is no ordinary researcher. A Turing Award winner and respected professor at New York University, he’s known for shaping modern AI as we know it.
But his departure isn’t just a career shift it’s a philosophical one. Unlike Zuckerberg, who’s doubling down on large language models (LLMs) the tech behind chatbots like ChatGPT LeCun has long believed that true AI will come from something deeper: “world models.”
These advanced systems learn from real-world experiences like videos and spatial data, not just text. In LeCun’s words, they could one day enable machines to “understand and interact with the physical world like humans do.”
The Tension Inside Meta
Behind the scenes, LeCun’s decision seems to reflect growing creative differences. Since the arrival of Alexandr Wang, the 28-year-old ex-Scale AI CEO who now leads Meta’s Superintelligence Labs, LeCun’s role has shifted. Once reporting directly to Meta’s Chief Product Officer Chris Cox, he now reports to Wang a move insiders say may have fueled his decision to move on.
At the same time, Meta’s AI division has faced turbulence. Earlier this year, Joelle Pineau, another top AI leader, left for Canadian startup Cohere. Add to that a 600-person layoff in the research unit, and it’s clear that the once-tight-knit team is undergoing major changes.
The Road Ahead for LeCun
For now, LeCun is said to be in early talks to raise funds for his new venture. While details remain under wraps, his focus on world models could set his startup apart in the race toward artificial general intelligence (AGI).
He’s always argued that AI still has “a long way to go,” and his next chapter might just prove how right he is.
What It Means for Meta
LeCun’s exit leaves a noticeable void at Meta. His expertise shaped much of the company’s foundational AI work from computer vision to deep learning research. Now, as Zuckerberg doubles down on building “superintelligence,” he faces growing pressure to justify billions in AI investments and keep pace with rivals like OpenAI and Google DeepMind.
Still, for LeCun, the move is a new beginning — one that could redefine how AI thinks, learns, and experiences the world.
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