Meta’s top AI scientist reportedly warned Mark Zuckerberg that Facebook and Instagram could go extinct if they didn’t catch up with ChatGPT
Meta’s chief AI scientist, Yann LeCun, recently issued a warning to CEO Mark Zuckerberg, stating that OpenAI’s ChatGPT could pose a significant threat to the company’s existence. According to sources familiar with the matter, LeCun took the opportunity to express his concerns while waiting in line for lunch at Meta’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California.
During their conversation, LeCun urged Zuckerberg to prioritize Meta’s AI efforts and develop its own AI assistant to keep up with OpenAI’s advancements. He emphasized that failing to do so could lead to the extinction of Facebook and Instagram. Although Zuckerberg initially didn’t respond, the report suggests that LeCun’s comments did bother him. This reaction is understandable, considering Zuckerberg’s ambition for Meta to be recognized as a leading AI company, with AI features already implemented across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
However, later that evening, Zuckerberg appeared to have a change of heart. During a dinner with LeCun, he acknowledged the validity of the scientist’s concerns and conceded that action needed to be taken.
The following months were marked by mixed results in the highly competitive AI race. Tech giants such as Google and Microsoft were also rushing to develop their own chatbots in an attempt to outshine OpenAI. In February, Meta released its own open-sourced AI model, LLaMA, to external researchers. Unfortunately, shortly after the release, the code was leaked on 4chan, a popular online messaging board. This incident raised internal security concerns and prompted Senators Josh Hawley and Richard Blumenthal to criticize Meta for releasing LLaMA without conducting a thorough risk assessment, potentially exposing the model to malicious actors.
Despite these setbacks, Meta remained undeterred in its pursuit of AI innovation. In July, the company unveiled Llama 2, the next iteration of its initial model. Additionally, Meta introduced its latest generation of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and a variety of AI chatbots that mimic the personas of celebrities like Paris Hilton and Snoop Dogg.
As the competition in the AI landscape intensifies, Meta’s response to OpenAI’s ChatGPT could be crucial in determining the future of social media giants like Facebook and Instagram. Zuckerberg’s decision to heed LeCun’s warning and prioritize Meta’s AI development signals the company’s commitment to staying relevant and competitive in this rapidly evolving field.
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