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Meta’s latest upheaval involves a major reorganization of its AI division, marked by swift departures and bold new hires. Just days after joining Meta, OpenAI’s ChatGPT co-creator Shengjia Zhao threatened to leave, even signing papers to return to his former employer, OpenAI. Surprisingly, he was then appointed Meta’s new chief AI scientist, highlighting the turbulent internal shifts.
This shakeup showcases Zuckerberg’s ambitious push to lead the AI frontier while juggling employee exits and internal friction. Veteran leaders like Chris Cox still play roles, but newer faces like Zhao, Alex Wang, and Nat Friedman are steering Meta’s AI ship into uncharted waters. The company aims to reform its AI efforts into a new Meta Superintelligence Lab, divided into four teams, as part of its fourth major overhaul in half a year.
A lot of new recruits have already left within weeks, including scientists Ethan Knight and Avi Verma, reflecting the internal challenges. Staff like Rishabh Agarwal also left despite being attracted by Zuckerberg’s compelling vision, citing personal risks as a factor. Meanwhile, longstanding employees such as Chaya Nayak and Loredana Crisan are choosing to exit after nearly a decade.
Meta remains committed, with spokespersons emphasizing normal attrition and the company’s focus on delivering advanced AI. Zuckerberg has been aggressively hiring AI talent from rivals like OpenAI and Apple, offering lucrative bonuses and vast computing resources. The restructuring has led to tension around leadership, especially as Zuckerberg tends to micromanage, and some leaders report frustrations with internal bureaucracy.
The ‘TBD’ department, led by Alex Wang, is at the forefront of developing cutting-edge models, abandoning previous projects like the Llama Behemoth for newer targets. Zuckerberg’s involvement in this team is intense, occasionally criticized as micromanagement, as they race toward superintelligence—AI that surpasses human capabilities.
Leadership shifts include Yann LeCun now reporting to Wang and the sidelining of some senior figures. Meta is reportedly pausing hiring for much of its AI division to better plan for 2026. Meanwhile, some celebrate Friedman’s appointment and Zhao’s arrival, viewing them as strong steps forward. Overall, Meta’s AI journey remains turbulent but ambitious, aiming to dominate the future of artificial intelligence development.
