Facebook is diving headlong into AI.
The company plans to launch expand its research laboratory dedicated entirely to artificial intelligence, and has hired New York University professor Yann LeCun to spearhead the effort.
The goal, according to LeCun, is long-term: To bring about major advances in the field, while doubling down in a research partnership with NYU to intensely study machine learning, data science and artificial intelligence.
The news of the hire, which Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg plans to announce at an industry conference on Monday, comes courtesy of LeCun himself, who posted his new position at Facebook to his Google+ and Facebook pages (thanks, Yann!). LeCun plans to continue working and teaching at NYU, as well.
“The new AI Group at Facebook will have locations in Menlo Park, CA, in London, UK, and at Facebook’s new facility in New York City, one block away from NYU’s main campus,” LeCun wrote.