Meta Platforms(US:META) Founder Park·2025-05-27 04:54Core Insights - Meta is facing significant talent loss in its AI team, with only 3 out of 14 core members of the Llama model remaining employed [1][2][5] - The departure of key researchers raises concerns about Meta's ability to retain top AI talent amidst competition from faster-growing open-source rivals like Mistral [2][4][5] - Meta's Llama model, once a cornerstone of its AI strategy, is now at risk due to the exodus of its original creators [2][6] Talent Loss and Competition - The AI team at Meta has seen a severe talent drain, with 11 out of 14 core authors of the Llama model having left the company, many joining competitors [1][2][5] - Mistral, a startup founded by former Meta researchers, is developing powerful open-source models that directly challenge Meta's AI projects [4][5] - The average tenure of the departed researchers was over five years, indicating they were deeply involved in Meta's AI initiatives [8] Leadership Changes and Internal Challenges - Meta is experiencing internal pressure regarding the performance and leadership of its largest AI model, Behemoth, leading to delays in its release [5][6] - The recent restructuring of the research team, including the departure of Joelle Pineau, raises questions about Meta's strategic direction in AI [5][6] - Meta's inability to launch a dedicated "reasoning" model has widened the gap between it and competitors like Google and OpenAI, who are advancing in complex reasoning capabilities [8] Declining Position in Open Source - Meta's once-leading position in the open-source AI field has diminished, as it has not released a proprietary reasoning model despite investing billions [8] - The Llama model's initial success has not translated into sustained leadership, with the company now struggling to maintain its early advantages [6][8]