Meta’s Head of AI Research, Joelle Pineau, to Depart in May

Joelle Pineau, Meta’s VP of AI Research, has announced her departure from the company, marking a major shift in the leadership of FAIR (Fundamental AI Research), the internal AI research lab led by Yann LeCun. Pineau shared the news in a Facebook post on Tuesday, stating that she will officially leave in May after over two years in the role.

Departure Amid Meta’s AI Expansion

Pineau’s exit comes at a pivotal moment for Meta, as the company intensifies its AI investments, committing $65 billion to AI infrastructure in 2025 alone. Despite her departure, Meta has yet to name a replacement, though a spokesperson confirmed that a search is already underway.

Last year, Meta restructured its AI division, placing it under the oversight of Chris Cox, Meta’s chief product officer, signaling a shift toward tighter integration of AI with Meta’s core products.

What’s Next for Pineau?

While Pineau has not disclosed her next move, she mentioned taking a break before embarking on a “new adventure.” Given her expertise in AI ethics, reinforcement learning, and robotics, her next step could have significant implications for the broader AI industry.

Her departure adds to the growing leadership shake-ups within the AI space, raising questions about Meta’s long-term AI research direction as it competes with OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic.