Archive · 7 Sep 2025
Ex-Meta AI Scientist Launches Startup Due to Frustrations
Shawn Shen, a former AI researcher at Meta, started his own company called Memories.ai because he was frustrated with how Meta was run.
He found it difficult to have stable goals because Meta was always reorganizing.
His new company is building AI that can see and remember like humans.
He's offering big paychecks, mostly in company stock, to attract top AI researchers.
He believes that many AI researchers are now preferring startups to big companies because startups are faster moving and offer more potential to change the world.
He also thinks that the competition for AI talent is getting very intense.
Shawn Shen, a former Meta AI researcher, founded Memories.ai.
Shen cited Meta's frequent reorganizations and shifting goals as a reason for leaving.
Memories.ai is developing AI systems that can 'see and remember'.
The startup is offering compensation packages up to $2 million, largely in equity.
Shen believes startup culture is growing among AI researchers.
- Who
- Shawn Shen, a former AI research scientist at Meta, is the founder of Memories.ai.
- What
- Shen left Meta to launch his own AI startup, Memories.ai.
- When
- Shen resigned from Meta in late 2023.
- Where
- N/A
- Why
- Shen cited Meta's frequent internal reshuffling, changing goals, and bureaucracy as reasons for leaving.
- Startup Name
- Memories.ai
- Founder
- Shawn Shen
- Former Employer
- Meta
- Focus
- AI systems that can "see and remember"
- Compensation Packages
- Up to $2 million
- Former Meta Manager
- Chi-Hao Wu, now Chief AI Officer at Memories.ai