Meta is making big changes to its AI efforts just a few months after launching its ambitious superintelligence project. The company is splitting its AI division into four separate teams: one dedicated to research, another focused on superintelligence, a third working on products, and a fourth handling infrastructure. This move signals a significant shift in how Meta is approaching artificial intelligence, but it’s also causing some upheaval within the company.

The restructuring was first hinted at in reports from The Information and confirmed by internal sources speaking to the New York Times. It comes after Meta hired a number of top talent from competitors like OpenAI, Apple, and Google DeepMind. Some of these hires were lavishly compensated, with at least one offered a $1 billion signing bonus. These high-profile moves show how serious Meta is about competing in the AI race, trying to catch up to and surpass other tech giants.

Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been pouring money into AI, much like he did with virtual reality a few years ago. In 2021, he rebranded Facebook as Meta, pivoting toward building the metaverse. Those VR projects have faced setbacks and layoffs, leaving many of the original teams disbanded. Now, AI has become the focus, and Zuckerberg appears to be doubling down on this new frontier. However, insiders say this latest restructuring might also involve downsizing the AI division, though nothing is final yet.

The internal chaos has already led to some key departures. Among those leaving is Joelle Pineau, who was the head of AI research at Meta before moving to AI startup Cohere in April. Other notable exits include Angela Fan, a researcher who helped develop Meta’s open-source Llama AI model, and Loredana Crisan, a VP of generative AI who’s headed to Figma, a well-known design software company. These departures suggest that the internal environment is tense, with some of the old guard choosing to leave before the situation worsens.

Meta’s recent developments reflect a company in transition. When asked for comment, Meta declined to discuss the shake-up. It’s clear, however, that Zuckerberg’s AI ambitions are still front and center. The company’s latest moves suggest that while the focus on superintelligence may be promising, it’s also a risky and chaotic process that’s reshaping Meta’s leadership and strategy.

Zuckerberg himself has expressed optimism about AI. He recently said that Meta is seeing signs of advanced AI improving and evolving on its own. This confidence highlights how committed he is to making AI a core part of Meta’s future. But with leadership upheavals and internal disagreements, it remains to be seen how smoothly this new chapter will unfold. The coming months will reveal whether Meta’s AI push will lead to breakthroughs or more turbulence.

Inspired by

• https://futurism.com/zuckerberg-meta-ai-push-chaos

Sources

• gmpg.org
• nytimes.com
• cnbc.com