Silicon Valley, once a hub for groundbreaking artificial intelligence research, is undergoing a seismic shift.
Tech titans like Meta, Google, and OpenAI, previously known for funding cutting-edge studies and fostering open academic collaboration, are now prioritizing commercialization over exploration, according to industry experts cited by CNBC.
The pivot began with OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT in late 2022, which ignited a race to deliver consumer-ready AI services.
Analysts project the AI market could generate $1 trillion annually by 2028, driving companies to focus on profitable products rather than academic papers.
This shift has sidelined the open-sharing culture that once defined AI research, with firms now guarding breakthroughs to gain a competitive edge.
However, the rush to market is raising alarms. Industry insiders warn that tech giants are cutting corners on safety testing for AI models to stay ahead in the race toward artificial general intelligence (AGI)—technology that matches or surpasses human capabilities.
The CTO of cybersecurity startup CalypsoAI, James White,
Said that newer AI models prioritize performance over security, making them more vulnerable to malicious prompts.
This could enable bad actors to extract sensitive information or instructions for harmful activities, such as building explosives.
“The models are getting better, but they’re also more likely to be good at bad stuff,” said White, whose company performs safety and security audits of popular models from Meta, Google, OpenAI and other companies. “It’s easier to trick them to do bad stuff.”
At Meta and Alphabet, shifts in AI priorities are clear, experts note.
Meta’s Fundamental Artificial Intelligence Research unit has been overshadowed by Meta GenAI, per current and former employees.
Meanwhile, Alphabet’s Google Brain has merged into DeepMind, which now drives AI product development at the company.
Experts noted that workers are under increasing stress due to tighter development timelines.
This emphasizes the urgency for companies to stay competitive by rapidly releasing new models and products.
Some individuals spoke anonymously because they lacked authorization to comment publicly—suggesting the sensitivity of the topic, possibly due to internal corporate policies or strategic concerns.
When Joelle Pineau, Meta’s vice president and head of the FAIR division, announced her departure in April, many former employees weren’t surprised. They saw it as a clear sign that the company was shifting away from AI research and focusing more on developing practical, product-driven AI applications.
“Today, as the world undergoes significant change, as the race for AI accelerates, and as Meta prepares for its next chapter, it is time to create space for others to pursue the work,” Pineau wrote on LinkedIn, adding that she will formally leave the company May 30.
Pineau took over the leadership of FAIR (Facebook AI Research) in 2023.
FAIR was founded about a decade earlier with the goal of tackling challenging computer science problems typically pursued in academic settings.
Yann LeCun, a key figure in the development of modern AI, was the initial head of the project and applied research methodologies from his experience at AT&T Bell Laboratories, shaping its direction according to former Meta employees.
