AI Godfather Ignites Firestorm: LeCun Slams Meta’s New 29-Year-Old AI Head
A seismic shift within Meta’s artificial intelligence division has erupted into public controversy, with one of the field’s most revered figures, Yann LeCun, launching a scathing critique against the company’s new leadership. LeCun, often hailed as a “godfather of AI” and formerly Meta’s chief AI scientist, has openly branded the new 29-year-old AI boss, Alexandr Wang, as “young” and “inexperienced.”
A Clash of Titans: Experience vs. New Blood
The dramatic pronouncement came during an interview with the Financial Times, where LeCun did not mince words about the appointment of Wang. The situation is particularly charged given that Wang, the founder of Scale AI, became LeCun’s direct manager following Meta’s colossal $15 billion investment in his startup. This hierarchical inversion has seemingly fueled LeCun’s candid assessment, highlighting a stark generational and philosophical divide at the heart of Meta’s ambitious AI strategy.
Meta’s AI Division in Turmoil
LeCun’s criticisms extend beyond individual appointments, painting a grim picture of internal strife and strategic missteps within Meta’s GenAI organization. He revealed that CEO Mark Zuckerberg “basically sidelined the entire GenAI organization” in the wake of the Llama 4 model’s disappointing performance and subsequent allegations of benchmark manipulation. This drastic restructuring has led to a significant exodus of talent.
“A lot of people have left, a lot of people who haven’t yet left will leave,” LeCun warned, underscoring the deep-seated discontent. The veteran AI scientist further characterized the new wave of hires as “completely LLM-pilled,” a term suggesting an overreliance on Large Language Models.
The Future of Superintelligence: A “Dead End”?
Perhaps the most profound philosophical disagreement articulated by LeCun concerns the very direction of AI research. He firmly believes that LLMs, despite their current prominence, are “a dead end when it comes to superintelligence.” This stance directly contradicts the apparent focus of Meta’s revitalized AI division and its new leadership, setting the stage for a fundamental ideological battle over the future of artificial intelligence development within one of the world’s largest tech giants.
As Meta navigates this turbulent period, the public spat between a foundational figure like LeCun and the company’s new guard raises critical questions about leadership, strategy, and the ultimate path to achieving truly advanced AI.
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