Chaya Nayak, a senior Indian-origin executive at Meta, has announced her departure after more than a decade at the company to join OpenAI. Her move marks a significant loss for Mark Zuckerberg, as Meta continues to see high-profile exits from its AI research teams.
A Decade at Meta
In a heartfelt LinkedIn post, Nayak reflected on her 10-year journey, recalling how she began with the Data for Good initiative. “What started as a bold experiment grew into the foundation of my career,” she wrote.
During her tenure, she spearheaded several impactful projects, including Disaster Maps to support communities in crisis, and led the Facebook Open Research and Transparency (FORT) team, which focused on responsible data use through privacy-first research tools.
She also contributed to Meta’s global response efforts during the 2020 US elections and co-authored studies on social media’s role in democracy.
Pioneering Work in Generative AI
In recent years, Nayak played a pivotal role in Meta’s Generative AI division, helping to build three generations of Llama and Meta AI models. “I learned confidence, resilience, and the boldness to chase audacious ideas,” she shared, crediting her colleagues for shaping her leadership journey.
New Role at OpenAI
Nayak revealed she is joining OpenAI’s Special Initiatives team, led by Irina Kofman, to explore cutting-edge opportunities at the frontier of AI. Calling it the “perfect next chapter,” she wrote:
“The journey isn’t over. I’m just turning the page.”
Part of a Larger AI Talent Exodus
Her exit comes amid a broader wave of AI researchers leaving Meta. In recent weeks, Rishabh Agarwal, Avi Verma, and Ethan Knight—all part of Meta’s Superintelligence Labs—also departed, with Verma and Knight rejoining Sam Altman’s OpenAI.
According to reports, Agarwal even left behind a seven-figure salary, describing it as a “tough decision” but one driven by the urge to embrace new risks.
