Meta’s dedicated superintelligence research team has experienced significant departures as the company shifts its focus toward more immediate AI products. Several key researchers, including some who were specifically hired to study artificial general intelligence (AGI) and potential AI risks, have left the team in recent months. This exodus comes as Meta prioritizes development of consumer-facing AI products to compete with other tech giants. The superintelligence team, formed in 2021, was tasked with researching long-term AI safety and development of advanced AI systems. Sources indicate that researchers felt their work on long-term AI safety was being deprioritized in favor of more commercial applications. Meta’s pivot reflects a broader industry trend of balancing theoretical AI safety research with practical AI development. The company has publicly committed to developing AI responsibly while simultaneously pushing to launch competitive products like Llama 2. The departures raise questions about Meta’s commitment to long-term AI safety research and highlight the tension between commercial interests and fundamental AI safety work. Despite these changes, Meta maintains that AI safety remains a priority, though their focus appears to be shifting toward more immediate applications and product development. This situation illustrates the ongoing challenge tech companies face in balancing commercial pressures with the need for foundational research into AI safety and ethics.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-superintelligence-team-researchers-exit-ai-push-2025-8