François Chollet, a leading figure in the AI world, has announced he is leaving Google after nearly ten years. The 34-year-old French developer shared the news in a post on X (formerly Twitter), revealing that he is starting a new company with a “friend.”
However, he kept the details under wraps for now. This marks a new chapter for Chollet, who has played a crucial role in AI’s rapid development.
A Decade of Innovation at Google
Chollet spent almost a decade at Google, helping shape AI’s growth. During this time, deep learning moved from a niche topic to a booming industry, impacting millions of people worldwide. Chollet expressed gratitude for his time at Google, acknowledging how much the industry has evolved.
“I’m very grateful for my decade at Google,” he wrote. “In that timespan, deep learning went from a niche academic topic to a massive industry employing millions.” His work helped develop some of Google’s most notable products, such as Waymo’s self-driving cars and recommendation systems for platforms like YouTube, Netflix, and Spotify.
François Chollet’s Keras
François Chollet is best known for creating Keras, an open-source library used to build AI models. This tool revolutionized AI development by making it easier for developers to create machine learning solutions. Today, over 2 million people use Keras, and it powers major tech products globally.
Self-driving cars and content recommendation systems on popular platforms rely on Keras.Its simplicity and efficiency have made it a staple in the AI community. It allows developers to focus on solving problems without worrying about complex details, helping to make AI more accessible to a broader audience.
A New Vision for AI
While Chollet’s work on Keras is well-known, his influence stretches beyond just one tool. In 2019, he introduced the Abstraction and Reasoning Corpus for Artificial General Intelligence (ARC-AGI). This benchmark tests AI’s ability to solve complex, novel problems. His work pushed the boundaries of what AI systems can do and sparked new debates on AI’s potential.
Chollet has always questioned the traditional approach to AI, which relies on vast amounts of data and computational power. He believes that the future of AI lies in models that can reason more like humans.
In particular, he advocates for neuro-symbolic AI, which combines symbolic reasoning with neural networks. Chollet views this as a more promising path toward achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), where AI can think and reason like humans.
The ARC Prize: A Bold Challenge
This year, Chollet launched the ARC Prize, a $1 million competition to develop AI systems capable of solving problems in the ARC-AGI benchmark. So far, the prize remains unclaimed, highlighting just how challenging the task is.
But Chollet is committed to pushing the AI field forward, believing that AGI is not only possible but necessary for the future of science and technology.
AI as a Tool for Advancing Human Knowledge
In an interview with Time, Chollet discussed his vision for the future of AI. He believes that Artificial General Intelligence will not be a threat to humanity but a powerful tool for advancing human knowledge.
“Artificial general intelligence is going to be a kind of super-competent scientist,” he explained. In his view, AGI could help unlock new discoveries in medicine, science, and technology by reasoning and innovating in ways humans can’t.
What’s Next for Chollet?
Chollet’s departure from Google marks a shift in his career, but he isn’t leaving behind the work he started. He announced that Jeff Carpenter, a machine learning engineer at Google, will take over as the team lead for Keras. Chollet expressed full confidence in Carpenter and the Keras team, knowing that the project will continue to thrive.
“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 said. Though he is leaving Google, Chollet plans to stay deeply involved with Keras from the outside.
Leaving a Lasting Legacy
Chollet’s departure signals the end of an important chapter for Google’s AI efforts, but his influence will continue to shape the field. His work, from creating Keras to developing the ARC-AGI benchmark, has paved the way for future advancements in AI. As Chollet embarks on his new venture, the AI community is eager to see what innovative ideas he will bring next.
Chollet’s story is a reminder of how far AI has come and how much potential it still holds. His vision for AI is not just about building smarter machines but using them to push the boundaries of human knowledge. With his experience and ideas, François Chollet will undoubtedly remain a central figure in the AI world.
Key Highlights of François Chollet’s Career
Creator of Keras: A highly popular open-source library for building AI models.
ARC-AGI Benchmark: Introduced to challenge AI systems with complex reasoning tasks.
Neuro-Symbolic AI Advocate: Promoted AI systems that reason like humans.
ARC Prize Founder: Launched a $1 million prize to advance AGI research.
Global AI Recognition: Honored with the Global Swiss AI Award and named to Time’s 100 Most Influential People in AI.
Chollet’s departure from Google is just the beginning of a new phase in his career. With his forward-thinking ideas and deep expertise, the future of AI remains in great hands.
