Nayak holds a Bachelor's in Global Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a Master of Public Policy with Data Science from UC Berkeley, underpinning her expertise in social impact and policy.

She has emphasized her growth as a leader, gaining confidence, boldness, and resilience through her diverse projects and collaborations.

Recognized as an Aspen Institute First Mover Fellow for her innovations in social impact, Nayak’s career reflects her commitment to societal good.

Chaya Nayak, a senior executive at Meta with nearly a decade of experience, has made significant contributions to social media research, including pioneering work on Data for Good, disaster response tools, and developing Meta's Llama generative AI models.

Throughout her time at Meta, she focused on supporting communities in crisis, advancing data privacy and transparency, and researching social media's impact on elections and democracy, often publishing in top journals like Science.

She led Meta’s Facebook Open Research and Transparency Team, promoting responsible data sharing and transparency, especially around election impacts.

Her departure from Meta after more than ten years highlights ongoing talent attrition within Meta's AI division, driven by strategic instability and competitive pressures, with other top researchers also leaving for OpenAI.

This wave of departures signals potential challenges for Meta’s future AI initiatives, particularly its Superintelligence Lab, while benefiting OpenAI, which continues to attract high-profile talent.

Nayak is joining OpenAI to work on Special Initiatives with Irina Kofman, focusing on exploring new AI opportunities, describing this move as the 'next chapter' in her career.

She expressed enthusiasm about leveraging her expertise in AI ethics, data policy, and societal impact at OpenAI, viewing it as a natural evolution to contribute to technological and societal advancements.

Her move to OpenAI reflects a broader industry trend where top AI researchers prefer stable, mission-driven environments focused on societal impact, with OpenAI’s reputation for stability and ethical focus making it highly attractive.

Her work at Meta included developing crisis response tools like real-time disaster maps and contributing to AI efforts for social good, including election response initiatives.

Early in her career, Nayak collaborated with organizations such as the World Bank and Standard Chartered, working on data-driven policy and engineering solutions.

Her departure signifies a strategic shift in the industry, with Meta potentially weakening its AI efforts while OpenAI strengthens its leadership in ethical AI research, influencing industry standards and innovation.