Two Paths Diverging
| Dimension | LeCun’s Vision | Zuckerberg’s Pivot |
|---|---|---|
| Leader | Yann LeCun (AMI Labs, $3.5B) | Mark Zuckerberg ($72.2B CapEx) |
| Architecture | World Models (V-JEPA) | Large Language Models (Llama) |
| Learning Approach | Video, spatial data, physics | Text prediction at scale |
| Timeline | 5-10 year research horizon | Commercial deployment now |
| Philosophy | “LLMs are a dead end for superintelligence” | Scale LLMs + infrastructure = moat |
The Stack Difference
LeCun / AMI Labs
World Models → V-JEPA Architecture → Research Purity
Zuckerberg / Meta
Llama Models → Custom Silicon (MTIA) → Data Centers → Energy (6.6 GW Nuclear) = SCALE
The Stakes: What If LeCun Is Right?
If LeCun is Right:
$72B+ CapEx deployed for wrong architecture = stranded assets
If Zuckerberg is Right:
Meta’s scale advantages compound, infrastructure moat holds
Meta’s Hedge
Even if LLMs plateau, Meta’s infrastructure serves:
- Current advertising optimization ($100B+)
- Inference for 3.58B users
- Whatever architecture comes next
The infrastructure bet hedges the architecture bet. That’s why Zuckerberg is building regardless.
This is part of a comprehensive analysis. Read the full analysis on The Business Engineer.
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