MENLO PARK — Facebook has announced the expansion of its AI research initiatives by opening a new artificial intelligence research lab in Montreal. This move strengthens Facebook AI Research (FAIR) by adding to its existing teams in Menlo Park, New York, and Paris. The Montreal lab will focus on cutting-edge AI projects, with a special emphasis on reinforcement learning and dialog systems.
The new lab will be led by Professor Joelle Pineau, a leading figure in AI research who co-directs the Reasoning and Learning Lab at McGill University. Dr. Pineau will continue her academic role while building and leading the FAIR Montreal team. Her expertise in developing algorithms for complex problems in areas such as robotics and healthcare will be invaluable in driving the lab’s success.
In addition to conducting advanced research, FAIR Montreal will collaborate with the broader AI community by sharing findings through publications, open source projects, and participation in conferences. Facebook has also established new partnerships with prominent Canadian institutions, including the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), the Montreal Institute for Learning Algorithms (MILA), McGill University, and Université de Montréal.
Facebook’s expansion into Montreal is supported by the city’s robust academic AI community, a thriving startup ecosystem, and government initiatives that encourage AI research. Facebook is eager to contribute to and grow alongside this vibrant community.