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Meta Recruits Former DeepMind Director to Lead FAIR AI Research Lab
2 min read Meta has hired ex-DeepMind director Robert Fergus to lead its FAIR lab, signaling a renewed focus on core AI research and innovation. May 09, 2025 13:55
Meta has appointed Robert Fergus, a former Research Director at Google DeepMind, to lead its Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) lab — a move that could reshape the company’s long-term AI strategy and reaffirm its commitment to foundational research.
Fergus, who previously worked at Meta before joining DeepMind for a five-year stint, steps in as FAIR faces ongoing challenges. Once the engine behind early models like Llama 1 and Llama 2, FAIR has reportedly seen an exodus of researchers, many of whom have joined startups, rival firms, or Meta’s own GenAI team, which developed the newer Llama 4 model.
The leadership shake-up follows the April departure of Joelle Pineau, Meta’s former VP of AI Research. With Fergus at the helm, Meta is likely aiming to reinvigorate FAIR’s influence within the company and reclaim its role in cutting-edge AI breakthroughs, especially as the AI arms race intensifies among Big Tech players.
For the broader AI community, Fergus’s appointment signals Meta’s renewed focus on foundational research, not just product-driven development. This could mean more open science, academic collaborations, and pre-competitive advancements — all crucial for driving innovation beyond proprietary model releases.
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