Yann LeCun: Intelligence Is All About Learning
▼ Summary
– Yann LeCun, a “godfather” of modern AI, was interviewed in Paris shortly after President Macron hosted an international AI summit at the nearby Grand Palais.
– LeCun is leaving his role as Meta’s chief AI scientist to fundraise for a new startup aimed at realizing his vision for superintelligent machines, which he prefers to call “intelligent amplification.”
– The announcement of his departure from Meta accelerated his plans and prompted a message of support from President Macron, who was pleased the new global company would have strong French ties.
– LeCun will serve as executive chair, not CEO, of the new venture to maintain research freedom, similar to his role at Meta.
– The startup, later reported to be named Advanced Machine Intelligence Labs, will be led by Alex LeBrun, co-founder and CEO of French AI health startup Nabla.
Arriving early from a morning train, I find Yann LeCun already seated, framed by two plastic Christmas trees in the quiet winter garden of the upscale Pavyllon restaurant. The location is adjacent to Paris’s Grand Palais, the recent venue for an international AI summit hosted by President Emmanuel Macron. This event served as a glitzy showcase for French technological ambition, featuring prominent global figures like LeCun himself, widely regarded as a foundational architect of contemporary artificial intelligence.
He stands to offer a welcoming hug, appearing remarkably energetic for someone who has spent a busy week immersed in high-level strategy. LeCun, instantly recognizable in his black Ray-Ban Wayfarers, prefers to frame his goals not as world domination but as “total world assistance” or “intelligent amplification.” The idea of domination, he notes, carries unnecessarily alarming connotations when applied to AI.
Our previous meeting occurred at a Paris conference last summer, where he detailed advancements in his pursuit of superintelligent systems in his role as Meta’s chief AI scientist. The landscape has shifted significantly since then. He is now in the process of departing his long-term position and is actively fundraising for a new startup dedicated to realizing that very vision.
His timetable intensified after reports surfaced of his planned exit from Meta. “It basically pushed us to accelerate the calendar,” he explains. The news even prompted a WhatsApp message from President Macron. While LeCun chooses not to reveal the precise content, he indicates the president expressed satisfaction that the new, globally-focused company would maintain strong ties to France.
LeCun clarifies that he will not serve as the chief executive of this new endeavor. Instead, he will take the role of executive chair, a position designed to preserve his freedom to conduct research, mirroring the liberty he enjoyed at Meta. “I’m a scientist, a visionary… I’m pretty good at guessing what type of technology will work or not,” he states. “But I can’t be a CEO.” This structure allows him to focus on his core strengths while entrusting operational leadership to others.
(Source: Ars Technica)
