This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) shares slipped about 2% on Tuesday morning after reports that the company’s chief AI scientist, Yann LeCun, plans to leave to start his own venture.

The move, first reported by the Financial Times, said LeCun is in early talks to raise funding for a new startup.

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LeCun, a Turing Award winner and a leading figure in modern deep learning, joined Meta in 2013 to help build what became the company’s Fundamental AI Research unit. His departure would mark a notable shift as Meta ramps up AI investments.

The report comes after Meta pledged hefty AI spending, a strategy that has drawn investor scrutiny amid rising costs. Some market commentary tied the leadership news to renewed pressure on the stock.

Executives have reorganized Meta’s AI teams, with Alexandr Wang tapped to lead a new superintelligence effort, a change that has reportedly reduced LeCun’s direct influence in recent months.

Industry watchers say the split underscores tension between long-term research and faster product-driven AI development.