Meta’s AI Strategy Faces Internal Rift as Top Scientist Slams New Chief
Turing Award winner Yann LeCun calls new AI head 'inexperienced' and warns of a potential talent exodus, adding friction to the firm's multi-billion dollar AI push.
Meta Platforms Inc. (META) shares slipped in recent trading after one of the company’s most celebrated employees, Chief AI Scientist Yann LeCun, publicly criticized the appointment of a new AI chief and warned of a potential talent exodus.
The stock traded down approximately 1.5% to $650.41 as the market digested comments from LeCun, a foundational figure in modern AI, who labeled Meta's new head of Superintelligence Labs, Alexandr Wang, as "young" and "inexperienced." The dissent from a top mind within the company raises questions about execution risk for what has become CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s most critical strategic initiative.
"A lot of people who haven't yet left Meta will leave," LeCun stated, according to a report from Benzinga. The warning highlights a brewing conflict over the direction and leadership of Meta's AI division at a time when competition for top-tier talent is fiercer than ever.
The leadership shake-up involves the appointment of 28-year-old Alexandr Wang, the founder of data-labeling unicorn Scale AI, which Meta invested in heavily. Wang's appointment is seen as part of a significant pivot by Zuckerberg, who reportedly grew frustrated with the pace of development in the company's existing generative AI teams. The move signals a more aggressive push into large language models (LLMs) to compete with rivals like OpenAI and Google.
However, the decision has created friction with LeCun, a co-recipient of the Turing Award for his pioneering work on neural networks. The conflict appears to be both personal and philosophical. LeCun, who has announced he will leave Meta in late 2025 to launch his own AI venture, has publicly stated his belief that LLMs are a "dead end" for achieving true artificial general intelligence. He advocates for an alternative "Objective-Driven AI" approach focused on learning from video and sensory data to build real-world understanding.
LeCun’s critique pointedly noted Wang’s lack of a background in fundamental research. According to other reports, LeCun emphasized that you cannot simply "tell a researcher what to do," hinting at a clash in management style and a potential challenge to Meta's lauded open research culture.
Despite the internal turmoil, Wall Street remains broadly confident in Meta's long-term AI strategy. The company, with a market capitalization of over $1.6 trillion, boasts a strong consensus among analysts, with 60 recommending the stock as a 'Buy' or 'Strong Buy' against just eight 'Hold' ratings. The average analyst price target sits at $837, implying significant upside from its current level. This optimism is pinned on an expected "AI-driven recovery" in revenue and user engagement.
Still, the internal dissent complicates the narrative. Meta is investing tens of billions in AI, from custom silicon to massive data centers, and recently moved to formally incorporate "AI-driven impact" into employee performance reviews starting in 2026. This top-down pressure to deliver on AI, combined with a leadership and strategy pivot that is alienating key talent, could create significant headwinds. LeCun has confirmed that Meta intends to partner with his new company, but his public airing of grievances casts a shadow over the transition and Zuckerberg's high-stakes bet on Wang to lead the charge.