Meta's AI research head, Joelle Pineau, is leaving the company after eight years, with her last day set for May 30. This departure comes at a time when Meta is investing heavily in AI, with plans to spend $65 billion on AI infrastructure this year.
Pineau, who led Meta's Fundamental AI Research group (FAIR), has been instrumental in developing various AI projects, including the open-source Llama family of AI models and PyTorch software for AI developers. Her exit raises questions about the future direction of Meta's AI research initiatives.
Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, has made AI a top priority, aiming to build an AI assistant with over 1 billion users and achieve advanced machine intelligence. The company is currently searching for Pineau's successor, but the transition may create a temporary void in AI leadership.
