Meta's former chief scientist Yann LeCun says he hated being a manager: 'I'm much more visionary' (www.businessinsider.com)

Yann LeCun, former chief AI scientist at Meta, has announced his departure to launch AMI Labs, a startup dedicated to creating open-source world model AI. LeCun expressed a strong preference for innovation over management during his tenure at Meta, describing his experience as a director as less fulfilling. While he acknowledged the importance of leadership roles, he emphasized his passion for visionary work, aiming to inspire others in the field rather than manage them. His vision for AMI Labs is to establish a French-based AI research hub that operates independently of the dominant Chinese and American tech landscapes. LeCun's criticisms of Meta's leadership decisions, particularly those involving the loss of the robotics team within the Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) lab, highlight his commitment to research integrity and innovation. He raised concerns regarding the lack of research experience in some leadership roles at Meta, particularly pointing to Alexandr Wang, whom he regarded as ill-equipped to guide researchers effectively. As LeCun shifts his focus to direct research endeavors at AMI Labs while remaining an influential educator at NYU, his move signifies a shift in the AI landscape towards more open-source collaborative approaches, fostering greater scientific creativity and technological advancement.