François Chollet Leaves Google to Start New Venture in AI
After nearly a decade at Google, François Chollet, a prominent figure in the AI community, has announced that he’s moving on to a new chapter in his career. In a recent post on X, the 34-year-old French developer shared his plans to embark on a new company with a friend, although he kept the specifics under wraps.
A Grateful Farewell
Reflecting on his time at Google, Chollet expressed gratitude for the journey. He noted, "In that timespan, deep learning went from a niche academic topic to a massive industry employing millions.” His contributions have undoubtedly shaped the landscape of AI as we know it today.
The Creator of Keras
Chollet is renowned as the genius behind Keras, a high-level, open-source API that simplifies the creation of AI models and machine learning tasks. According to Google’s developer blog, Keras boasts over two million users and is integral to the functionality of various high-profile tech products, including Waymo’s self-driving technology and content recommendation systems on platforms like YouTube, Netflix, and Spotify.
Innovation and Challenge
In 2019, Chollet introduced the Abstraction and Reasoning Corpus for Artificial General Intelligence (ARC-AGI) benchmark, designed to assess AI’s ability to tackle novel reasoning challenges. This year, he launched the ARC Prize— a bold $1 million initiative aimed at breaking the ARC-AGI’s boundary of complexity. Although the prize remains unclaimed, it speaks volumes about Chollet’s vision for pushing AI frontiers.
A Different Approach to AI
Chollet has been an outspoken critic of the conventional methods used by many leading AI labs. He warns that sheer volume of data and computational power may not yield the "smart" AI we aspire to have. Instead, he advocates for techniques that enhance a model’s reasoning capabilities in a more human-like manner, such as neuro-symbolic AI. This perspective reflects a growing sentiment that perhaps AI should not just mimic human output but also emulate human-like thought processes.
His innovations have not gone unnoticed. In 2021, he was awarded the Global Swiss AI Award, and in September, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in AI—a reflection of his impact and thought leadership in the industry.
The Future of AI
Chollet envisions a future where superintelligent AI acts as an invaluable tool for advancing human knowledge. "Artificial general intelligence is going to be a kind of super-competent scientist,” he told Time, providing an insightful look at the potential roles AI might play.
As he steps away from Google, he confirmed that Jeff Carpenter, a fellow machine learning engineer, will take over as the team lead for Keras. “I have full confidence in Jeff and the incredibly talented Keras team to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in deep learning,” Chollet stated. He assured followers that he would remain involved with Keras from an external vantage point.
Conclusion
François Chollet’s departure marks a thrilling moment not just for him but for the entire AI community. His future endeavors are highly anticipated, and many are eager to see the innovations he’ll bring to life. The AI Buzz Hub team is excited to see where these breakthroughs take us. Want to stay in the loop on all things AI? Subscribe to our newsletter or share this article with your fellow enthusiasts.
