Meta, the tech giant led by Mark Zuckerberg, has been experiencing a string of high-profile exits in recent weeks. Adding to this growing list is Chaya Nayak, an Indian-origin technology leader who has now left Meta to join its AI rival, OpenAI.
Ironically, Nayak’s move comes just months after Meta launched its new Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL)—an ambitious effort led by Zuckerberg to bolster the company’s AI capabilities. That initiative saw Meta recruit more than 10 top AI talents from OpenAI, according to various reports.
Chaya Nayak’s Background and Career at Meta
According to her LinkedIn profile, Chaya Nayak holds a Bachelor’s degree in Global Studies (focused on Security, Peace Studies, and Spanish) from the University of Wisconsin, and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of California.
Nayak joined Meta (then Facebook) in October 2016 as the Head of Data for Good. She was promoted in June 2018 to become the Product Manager & Head of Research & Transparency, and most recently served as the Director of Product Management for Generative AI.
Reflecting on her journey at Meta in a LinkedIn post, Nayak wrote:
“I remember my first weeks at Facebook like they were yesterday. I joined to help jumpstart Data for Good, an effort to show how data and AI/ML could benefit the world. What started as a bold experiment grew into the foundation of my career.”
During her tenure, she played a central role in building tools like Disaster Maps to support communities in crisis. She also founded the Facebook Open Research and Transparency Team, working on complex problems like data cleaning, differential privacy, and secure data environments known as clean rooms.
Nayak notably contributed to major global efforts, including the 2020 U.S. elections, and co-authored research papers published in leading journals such as Science, exploring the impact of Meta’s platforms on democracy.
“Along the way, I grew as a leader. I learned confidence, boldness to chase audacious ideas, and resilience when things didn’t go as planned,” she shared.
“Most importantly, I built a network of colleagues and friends who shaped me and inspired me every step of the way.”
As Meta began focusing heavily on generative AI, Nayak worked on the development of the last three versions of LLaMA and Meta AI, helping the company tackle complex problems at a rapid pace.
The Move to OpenAI
At OpenAI, Nayak will lead special initiatives in collaboration with Irina Kofman, another former Meta executive who made the switch to the ChatGPT maker last year.
In her post, Nayak described the move as a natural next step:
“It feels like the perfect next chapter: to take everything I’ve learned, and pour it into work that will help define what comes next for technology and society.”
Ongoing Talent Exodus at Meta
Nayak’s departure is part of a larger trend. Meta has reportedly seen a number of significant exits recently, including:
- Rishabh Agarwal, Indian-origin AI researcher
- Ethan Knight, machine learning scientist
- Avi Verma, former OpenAI researcher
- Loredana Crisan, a long-serving Meta executive
Adding to the intrigue, a Financial Times report claims that Shengjia Zhao—Meta’s current Chief Scientist and one of the co-creators of ChatGPT—initially intended to leave Meta shortly after joining. He had allegedly filed employment paperwork with OpenAI before being offered a key leadership role at Meta.
