LeCun Prepares New AI Venture

Meta’s chief AI scientist Yann LeCun will leave the company at the end of 2025 to launch a new AI venture. The company will focus on advanced machine intelligence, with Meta named as a partner, though neither side has shared funding, ownership, or technical details.

Meta as an Early Partner. Meta is named as a partner, but the structure of the collaboration remains unclear. The terms will determine whether LeCun’s firm operates independently or maintains close ties to Meta’s research pipeline.

A Split in AI Philosophy. LeCun has publicly argued that large language models cannot reason or plan like humans, reflecting a broader divide in how major labs see the next decade of AI development. His new venture could focus on alternative approaches such as world models or predictive learning systems.

Strategic Questions for Llama Users. The move raises questions for developers building on Llama. If Meta shifts its openness strategy or slows external releases, teams may need to reassess their model roadmaps and evaluate alternative platforms.

LeCun’s departure marks a significant shift at Meta and signals a growing push toward new architectures beyond today’s dominant model classes.