In a bold move to rejuvenate its lagging artificial intelligence division, Meta has invested $14.3 billion to acquire a 49% stake in Scale AI, and, more significantly, brought on board Scale’s CEO, Alexandr Wang. The young tech prodigy, known for becoming the world’s youngest self-made billionaire at 21, will now lead a new AI lab at Meta that’s focused on creating what insiders are calling “superintelligence.”
As part of the deal, Wang will report directly to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg while retaining a seat on Scale AI’s board. Scale’s former chief strategy officer, Jason Droege, will take over as interim CEO.
A Strategic Talent Play
Meta’s decision to not fully acquire Scale is a familiar maneuver among Big Tech firms—locking in elite AI talent without triggering immediate antitrust scrutiny. Although Meta only holds non-voting shares in Scale, the deal is expected to face regulatory review due to its size and implications.
Zuckerberg has personally spearheaded an aggressive recruitment effort to assemble a world-class AI team under Wang. According to insiders, he has been reaching out to researchers from rival companies such as Google and OpenAI with lucrative seven- and eight-figure compensation packages. This talent raid signals Meta’s intent to position itself as a frontrunner in the race toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
Why Scale AI?
Scale AI plays a critical role in the AI ecosystem, helping top firms like Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic train their models. It does this by providing large volumes of high-quality, human-annotated data—often sourced via low-cost global labor.
Over the past few years, Scale has grown to over 1,500 employees and has signed key government and enterprise deals. It recently secured a major partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense for AI-based military planning and inked a five-year agreement with Qatar to supply AI tools. These partnerships could represent a sizable chunk of its upcoming revenues.
In a memo to Scale employees, Wang acknowledged the significance of the Meta investment:
“This is a major milestone and a powerful validation of the hard work you’ve all put into Scale’s mission.”
Wang also confirmed that proceeds from the deal would be distributed to vested shareholders, while leaving room for continued participation in the company’s future growth.
Meta’s AI Challenges and Ambitions
Meta’s AI ambitions have hit multiple roadblocks in 2024. The company’s flagship model, Llama 4, had a rocky debut, marred by delays and accusations of manipulating public leaderboards to boost its rankings. Its most advanced version, Llama 4 Behemoth, teased in April, remains unreleased.
Despite these setbacks, Zuckerberg remains committed to turning things around. Last month, he outlined two major AI goals for 2025:
- Make Meta AI “the leading personal AI”
- Build full general intelligence
Meta AI currently boasts over a billion monthly users, though that number is driven by heavy integration into Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook. The standalone Meta AI app, launched in April, briefly topped app store charts but failed to maintain that momentum.
With Alexandr Wang at the helm of its new AI lab, Meta is banking on a fresh vision and strong leadership to course-correct. The focus on “superintelligence” reflects a renewed push to close the gap with competitors like OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic.
What This Means for the AI Race
Meta’s massive investment in Scale AI is more than just a talent acquisition. It represents a calculated pivot to regain relevance in a rapidly advancing AI landscape. While Meta trails the leaders today, it now has one of the brightest minds in AI, a powerful data infrastructure in Scale, and the capital to push forward.
As governments worldwide take note of Big Tech’s growing influence over next-gen AI, Meta’s new play will be closely watched—not only for its technical impact but also for its geopolitical and regulatory implications.
Whether this gamble pays off could shape the future of AI as we know it.
