MetaS enterprising Superintelligence Labs (MSL) is experiencing significant staff turnover just months after it’s launch. The majority of recent departures are long-term Meta employees, not new hires, raising questions about the initiative’s stability.
Meta’s Superintelligence labs Faces Staff Exodus
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Meta’s cutting-edge AI lab is losing key talent, including veteran employees, shortly after its high-profile debut.
- several long-term Meta employees have departed the Superintelligence Labs (MSL) as July.
- notable exits include individuals wiht over eight or 12 years at Meta.
- Many former MSL staff are moving to rival AI companies, especially OpenAI.
- Internal organizational changes may be contributing to employee dissatisfaction.
What is Meta’s Superintelligence Labs? Meta established MSL to compete with AI leaders like Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI. Its primary task is to refine Meta’s Llama AI models, including versions 4.1 and 4.2. CEO Mark Zuckerberg also aims to use MSL to spearhead research into next-generation AI models within the next year, according to a June memo.
Key Employees Depart for Competitors
At least eight members have left MSL as July, with many being seasoned Meta employees. Some prominent departures include:
- Afroz Mohiuddin: Joined Meta in 2024 and left in August for openai.
- Bert Maher: A 12-year Meta veteran crucial to developing AI tools, now at Anthropic.
- Chaya Nayak: departed after over eight years for a new role at OpenAI.
- Chi-Hao Wu: Spent five years at Meta before becoming chief AI officer at Memories.ai.
- Tony Liu: With Meta for over eight years, Liu is planning to launch an AI newsletter.
Chi-Hao Wu, a former AI and ML specialist at Meta, suggested to Business Insider that the rapid pace and frequent organizational shifts within the AI team contribute to the turnover. “A lot of people in the AI team maybe feel things are too dynamic,” Wu explained. “There were a lot of organizational changes – actually, my manager changed several times.”
These internal shifts include the recent restructuring of MSL into several new AI groups. While employee mobility is normal, the extended tenures of those leaving Meta are noteworthy. The attrition isn’t confined to senior staff either, as more recent hires are also departing.
Recent Hires also Move On
Meta is experiencing departures across all seniority levels. Recent hires who have announced their exits include:
- Avi Verma: Previously with OpenAI, Avi was with MSL for less than a month before returning to openai.
- Ethan Knight: Also returned to OpenAI after a short stint at Meta.
- Rishabh Agarwal: Left after approximately five months at Meta to join Periodic Labs.
A growing number of former MSL staff are reappearing at rival firms, with OpenAI proving to be a frequent destination.
Impact on Superintelligence Goals
recent interviews indicate Mark Zuckerberg is heavily invested in superintelligence. While MSL is a significant step towards his vision of “personal superintelligence to everyone,” the substantial departure of key personnel could substantially disrupt these plans for the foreseeable future.
Reader question: Why is there such a high rate of turnover at Meta’s Superintelligence Labs?
