Meta’s AI Chief Joelle Pineau Exits

FINANCE
Meta’s AI Chief Joelle Pineau Exits

Joelle Pineau, Meta’s Vice President of AI Research, is stepping down at the end of May after eight years with the company. Her departure comes at a pivotal time, as competition in artificial intelligence intensifies and major tech firms race to advance new technologies. Pineau shared the news in a social media post, saying that as the AI race accelerates and Meta enters a new chapter, it’s time for others to continue the work. Meta has not named a successor, nor has it commented publicly on her departure.

Based in Montreal, Pineau is also a computer science professor at McGill University. She has been a key figure in Meta’s open-source AI strategy and led the development of the Llama family of large language models, which have been released with open components for the research community to use and build upon.

Pineau took over Meta’s AI research division—formerly known as Facebook AI Research (FAIR)—in 2023. The division was originally founded in 2013 by several AI pioneers, including Yann LeCun, who stepped down from his director role in 2018 but continues as Meta’s Chief AI Scientist. Her leadership emphasized openness and collaboration, setting Meta apart from rivals like OpenAI and Google DeepMind.

Her announcement comes just ahead of Meta’s debut of LlamaCon, a new AI-focused conference launching on April 29. Pineau’s departure signals a leadership shift at a critical time for Meta’s AI ambitions and the broader industry push for more transparent, accessible AI systems.

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Norway Urged to Rethink Defense Ban

Norway’s $1.8 trillion sovereign wealth fund is facing pressure to revise its investment guidelines amid rising global tensions. Opposition parties are calling for the government to lift a longstanding ban on investing in certain defense companies, especially those involved in producing components for nuclear weapons, cluster munitions, and other controversial arms. Critics argue the policy is outdated, particularly given the ongoing war in Ukraine and rising military activity in countries like China.

Tina Bru, deputy leader of Norway’s Conservative Party, says the fund’s current ethical rules are inconsistent, noting that while the government purchases weapons from excluded companies, the fund is barred from investing in them. She and others believe the fund should support Western defense firms vital to security. The fund has previously excluded major defense contractors like BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin.

Calls for change come as defense spending rises globally, and ESG-focused investors grow more comfortable with the sector. Norway’s Labour-led government has yet to respond, though a finance ministry spokesperson said they would address the issue in Parliament first. Some, including Saxo Bank’s Ida Johannesen, caution against making changes due to political pressure, arguing that decisions should prioritize long-term national interests.

The fund, managed by Norges Bank Investment Management, has holdings in over 8,600 companies worldwide. Lawmaker Hans Andreas Limi has also introduced a bill to reverse the nuclear weapons ban, calling the current policy “hypocritical.” The debate signals a broader shift in how ESG principles are being applied in a changing world.

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