Meta has brought Robert Fergus on board to guide its Fundamental AI Research lab, as reported by Bloomberg. Fergus previously spent five years as a research director at Google DeepMind before returning to Meta, where he also held a scientist position earlier in his career.
The FAIR lab, established in 2013, has played a major role in shaping Meta AI research. Flagship projects like Llama 1 and Llama 2 were born from this team’s efforts, placing FAIR at the forefront of the company’s AI advancements.
Shifting Roles in Meta’s AI Leadership
Despite its early successes, the FAIR division encountered turbulence as numerous researchers exited for both industry startups and Meta’s own GenAI group. GenAI quickly rose to prominence by leading the development of Llama 4, drawing attention and talent away from traditional FAIR projects.
Leadership transitions have further impacted the lab, with Joelle Pineau, formerly the vice president of AI research, stepping down in April to pursue new opportunities. The arrival of Fergus signals a renewed focus as Meta seeks to strengthen its research foundation and retain top AI experts.
Fergus’s appointment comes at a time when the competition for artificial intelligence talent and innovation is intense across the tech sector. His prior experience at both Meta and Google DeepMind is expected to drive FAIR’s research agenda in a new direction.
