Meta has named Robert Fergus, a seasoned expert with a five-year tenure at Google DeepMind, to lead its Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) lab. Fergus isn’t new to Meta; he previously contributed as a research scientist, which gives him a solid understanding of the company’s vision and challenges. Established in 2013, FAIR played a key role in building Meta’s early AI models such as Llama 1 and Llama 2, even as the team has recently grappled with significant staff turnover—researchers moving on to startups, different companies, or Meta’s own GenAI group behind the Llama 4 model.
The appointment comes on the heels of Joelle Pineau’s departure as Meta’s VP of AI Research in April, as she stepped away to explore other opportunities. With Fergus at the helm, Meta is set to reinvigorate its AI exploration, blending fresh leadership with the company’s established expertise.
