Latest news with #JoellePineau
TechCrunch
08-05-2025
- Business
- TechCrunch
Meta taps former Google DeepMind director to lead its AI research lab
In Brief Meta has chosen Robert Fergus to lead its Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) lab, according to Bloomberg. Fergus had been working at Google DeepMind as a research director for nearly five years, per his LinkedIn. Prior to Google, he worked as a researcher scientist at Meta. Meta's FAIR, which has been around since 2013, has faced challenges in recent years, according to a report from Fortune. FAIR led research on the company's early AI models, including Llama 1 and Llama 2. However, researchers have reportedly departed the unit en masse for other startups, companies, and even Meta's newer GenAI group, which led the development of Llama 4. Meta's previous VP of AI Research, Joelle Pineau, announced in April she'd be leaving the company for a new opportunity.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
META Is Facing Multiple AI-Related Challenges
After Meta (META) disclosed that its head of AI Research is leaving, CNBC reported that the tech giant is facing multiple other challenges on the AI front. Has Meta Lost Its AI Momentum? Joelle Pineau, who was the head of Meta's AI Research department for eight years, is leaving the company, CNBC reporter Deirdre Bosa noted today. Bosa added that "other recent developments might or should have investors wondering if Meta has lost its AI edge." Specifically, it has been eight months since Meta released a new version of its Llama AI model, while OpenAI and Alphabet (GOOG,GOOGL) have each unveiled multiple, new AI models already in 2025. Further, according to one source, Meta's AI chatbot had the lowest traffic in March among major players in the category. A Number of Positive AI Catalysts Could Be on the Way for Meta The company is slated to hold its first LlamaCon on April 29. At the conference, it plans to introduce its new AI initiatives, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has "teased upcoming Llama models," Bosa noted. The Price Action of Meta Stock In the last month, the shares have dropped 13%, while they have retreated 9% in the last three months. While we acknowledge the potential of META, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than META but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Miami Herald
02-04-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Meta's AI ambitions suffer a setback
Just as Meta Platform (META) is doubling down on its artificial intelligence ventures, it is suffering what could be a massive blow. During its Q1 earnings report, the social media giant clearly focused on increasing AI spending in 2025 with higher capital expenditure plans. However, the person responsible for spearheading Meta's AI expansion has announced an abrupt exit from the company. Don't miss the move: SIGN UP for TheStreet's FREE Daily newsletter Joelle Pineau, who has been Vice President of AI Research at Meta since 2023, recently announced in a LinkedIn post that May 30 will be her last day. Her decision comes at a time when Meta is facing many challenges as it seeks to compete with some of the tech sector's fastest-growing startups. The AI market is booming, but companies like Meta must move quickly to avoid being left behind. Since OpenAI launched ChatGPT in 2022, kicking off the modern AI revolution, both large and small companies have focused on staking ground in this booming new industry. One of the biggest players is Meta Platforms, which has since produced multiple open-source large language models (LLMs). Meta has integrated AI technologies into its social media platforms, making it easier for users to search for content on Facebook and Instagram. However, in a field that moves as quickly as the modern AI market, no company can afford to stay still for long. Related: Meta Platforms new push is raising red flags and strong skepticism As a technology leader, expectations for Meta's AI ambitions have been high. Now, the departure of its AI leader threatens to slow progress as competition increases from rivals. Pineau has been the face of the open-source-centric model that has been the foundation of Meta's AI strategy for years. She isn't joining another tech company, at least not yet, and stated in a LinkedIn post that she will be "taking some time to observe and to reflect before jumping into a new adventure." While Pineau hasn't specified what that "new adventure" might look like, reports indicate that she will continue her work as a professor at the McGill University School of Computer Science in Montreal. Now that Meta is tasked with replacing her, a lot is on the line. CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated previously that Meta plans to spend up to $65 billion on AI projects this year, including a massive data center in Louisiana that is expected to be "roughly the size of Manhattan." It remains to be seen who will spearhead these ambitious plans following Pineau's departure. Update from rival CEO reveals shocking truth about Mark ZuckerbergNew app poses problems for Elon Musk and ZuckerbergHedge fund short positions point to the end of Magnificent 7 era Meta's rivals, such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Perplexity, are working on similar models and demonstrating notable progress. Meanwhile, the ongoing threat of Chinese companies such as DeepSeek winning market share continues to worry U.S. companies. Given Meta's size and resources, the company should remain competitive. However, Pineau's departure should serve as a reminder of another problem the company is facing. Related: Meta turns to powerful ally in battle against Europe "Pineau's departure comes amid other leadership changes at Meta," Business Insider reports. "The company recently lost two other senior executives: Dan Neary, vice president for Asia-Pacific Meta's largest market, and Kate Hamill, managing director for retail and e-commerce in North America, who had spent more than a decade at the company. While Neary hasn't indicated any clear next steps, Hamill will join rival social media platform Pinterest (PINS) . The loss of multiple company leaders in such a short period of time may be a red flag for some investors, as it could indicate either instability or a lack of faith in Zuckerberg. Over the past few months, the Meta CEO has come under fire for his decision to end fact-checking on Facebook and replace it with a model that closely mirrors X's Community Notes. Now, executives who helped lead Meta's most important teams are leaving, casting more uncertainty over the company's future. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Bloomberg
02-04-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Tinder's Flirting AI Chatbots Play Hard to Get
Welcome to Tech In Depth, our revamped daily newsletter with reporting and analysis about the business of tech from Bloomberg's journalists around the world. Today, Natalie Lung experiences rejection and success when she tries to get a date with Tinder's new AI chatbots. Top AI researcher exits: Joelle Pineau, who leads Meta's AI research group, announced her departure after eight years at the social media company. Pineau, who also is a computer science professor at McGill University in Montreal, said it was time for her to 'create space for others to pursue the work.'
South China Morning Post
02-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Meta's AI research chief to exit, jolting US$65 billion investment drive
Meta Platforms head of artificial intelligence research (AI) plans to leave the company, creating a high-level vacancy just as Meta seeks to invest and compete aggressively in AI. Advertisement Joelle Pineau, the vice-president leading Meta's Fundamental AI Research group, known as Fair, announced her departure on Tuesday. Pineau has been at the company for eight years, has led the Fair team since early 2023 and reports to chief product officer Chris Cox. Her group oversees Meta's AI research efforts, focused on everything from voice translation and image-recognition technology to the company's open-source large language model, called Llama. The unit also explores development of what Meta calls 'advanced machine intelligence', or human-level intelligence for machines. Pineau, who's also a computer science professor at McGill University in Montreal, said she will remain at the company until May and then take some time to 'observe and reflect'. 'Today, as the world undergoes significant change, as the race for AI accelerates, and as Meta prepares for its next chapter, it is time to create space for others to pursue the work,' she wrote in her note to colleagues. Pineau also posted her announcement on social media. Advertisement
