Editorial illustration for Amazon AGI Lab Head David Luan Departs After Leading Nova Act Development
Amazon AGI Lab Head David Luan Exits Suddenly
Amazon AGI Lab Head David Luan Departs After Leading Nova Act Development
David Luan’s exit marks a turning point for Amazon’s nascent AGI efforts. While he oversaw the creation of Nova Act, the AI‑driven browser agent that promised a more conversational web experience, the lab’s leadership now faces a gap. Luan’s tenure has been defined by pushing the boundaries of what an Amazon‑built system can do inside a user’s browser, yet the announcement of his departure leaves the project without its chief architect.
Colleagues note that his move comes at a moment when the broader AI community is buzzing about the proximity of artificial general intelligence. The shift raises questions about how Amazon will sustain momentum on Nova Act without the visionary who steered its development from the start. It also hints at what might be driving Luan’s next steps—an ambition that extends beyond a single product line.
As the company recalibrates, Luan’s own words provide a window into the rationale behind his decision:
*“But with AGI so close, I decided to spend 100% of my time on teaching AI systems brand new capabilities.”*
But with AGI so close, I decided to spend 100% of my time on teaching AI systems brand new capabilities." Amazon's AGI lab leader is leaving David Luan was leading Amazon's development of the Nova Act AI browser agent. David Luan was leading Amazon's development of the Nova Act AI browser agent. The loss of a top AI developer at Amazon comes as the company struggles to keep up in the AI race; even its own employees are reportedly calling its in-house AI products "Amazon Basics." Just a few weeks ago, Amazon rolled out Alexa Plus, its revamped AI assistant, to all users in the US, although some early users have said they'd prefer to stick with the original Alexa.
Luan joined Amazon in 2024 along with other employees from his startup, Adept, which was developing AI agent technology that Amazon licensed. While at Amazon, Luan worked on its Nova AI models, including the Nova Act AI agent, which launched as a research preview in March.
David Luan’s departure caps a brief, high‑profile stint at Amazon’s San Francisco AI lab. In a LinkedIn post he said he would leave at week’s end to “cook up something new,” adding that with AGI “so close” he wants to devote all his time to “teaching AI systems brand new capabilities.” He had overseen the Nova Act browser‑agent project, the most visible output of the lab during his tenure. The announcement leaves Amazon without its public‑face for AGI research, and it is unclear whether the Nova Act effort will continue under new leadership or be folded into broader initiatives.
Meanwhile, Luan’s next steps remain private; no details about a new company or partnership were provided. The move underscores the fluid nature of talent in the AI field, where leaders can pivot quickly. Whether his focus on “new capabilities” will translate into measurable progress on AGI is still an open question.
Stakeholders will watch how Amazon reallocates resources within its broader AI strategy, and whether the lab’s momentum can be sustained. The brief tenure also raises questions about the stability of internal AGI programs.
Further Reading
- Papers with Code - Latest NLP Research - Papers with Code
- Hugging Face Daily Papers - Hugging Face
- ArXiv CS.CL (Computation and Language) - ArXiv
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Common Questions Answered
Who is David Luan and why is he leaving Amazon's AGI lab?
David Luan is the head of Amazon's artificial general intelligence (AGI) lab who joined the company in 2024 through an acqui-hire of his startup Adept. He is departing less than two years after joining, citing his desire to focus on teaching AI systems new capabilities, with his exit marking a significant moment for Amazon's AI research efforts.
What is Nova Act and what breakthrough did it achieve?
Nova Act is Amazon's AI agent service designed to automate browser-based workflows with unprecedented reliability. The service achieved a breakthrough 90% reliability for UI-based tasks, such as updating customer records in CRM systems, which sets it apart from previous AI agent attempts that often failed to deliver consistent performance.
What are the key features of Amazon's Nova Act service?
Nova Act provides a comprehensive platform for building AI agents, including a no-code playground, human-in-the-loop oversight, and tool calling capabilities. The service is powered by a custom Nova 2 Lite model and uniquely trains its model, SDK, orchestrator, and browser controllers as a single unified system to maximize reliability and performance.