Yann LeCun, the primary AI professor at Meta, revealed that he declined an opportunity to become the director of research at Google back in 2002. In a blog post on X, LeCun outlined the reasons behind his decision, emphasizing factors like the company’s size and the compensation package.
LeCun mentioned that the salary offered was unsatisfactory, especially considering his responsibilities of supporting his younger siblings at that time. Despite the perceived lower pay, he highlighted the potential for substantial growth through the investment options presented.
Additionally, he pointed out that Google, which had 600 employees then and was operating at a loss, required more than just research skills—it demanded involvement in business strategy and management as well.
Preferring to dedicate his efforts to research spanning various fields, including machine learning, subsequent to receiving the Turing Prize in 2018, LeCun also shared his unwillingness to relocate his family to California.
Reflecting on the possible ramifications of his choice, LeCun proposed that accepting the position at Google might have positively influenced the company culture. He envisioned cultivating a more open and forward-thinking research atmosphere within Google.
Recent critiques of Google’s slow and excessively cautious approach to AI advancement, particularly in light of the success of Microsoft-backed ChatGPT, have brought scrutiny to the company’s strategy. Google has since launched competing products to rival offerings from OpenAI, such as ChatGPT.
Despite inquiries from Business Insider, Google representatives did not offer an immediate response.
