Meta's move away from social media and into virtual reality has been a problem. John Carmack, the company's Chief Technology Officer, is leaving Meta due to frustration over the company's inefficiency.
Carmack stepped into the role of CTO for Oculus (now called Reality Labs) in 2013) and is shutting the door behind him after nearly ten years. Carmack shared an internal memo with the press that led to his departure. Carmack uploaded the entire memo to his Facebook account. Carmack is unhappy with the way the company is being run and he has been happy with the technology that has been produced.
Carmack stated in the letter that the issue was efficiency. We have a lot of people and resources, but we don't take care of ourselves.
Meta didn't reply to Gizmodo's request for comment on Carmack's departure.
Carmack explains in a follow-up paragraph that he, as a top executive, felt that the company was moving in the wrong direction.
It has been a struggle for me. I have a voice at the highest levels here, so it feels like I should be able to move things, but I’m evidently not persuasive enough. A good fraction of the things I complain about eventually turn my way after a year or two passes and evidence piles up, but I have never been able to kill stupid things before they cause damage, or set a direction and have a team actually stick to it. I think my influence at the margins has been positive, but it has never been a prime mover.
It is impossible to overstate the impact you have had on our work and the industry as a whole. Your technical prowess is well known, but it is your focus on creating value for people that will be remembered the most. I would like to thank you and see you in virtual reality.
Meta is stuck in purgatory between its social media past and its virtual reality ventures as Carmack leaves. The future of the Metaverse is bleak as the company tries to pivot more and more towards virtual reality.
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