Meta just made a $15 billion move to the AI frontier — here's why it's backing Scale AI's 28-year-old prodigy

Time of India

a day ago

Meta taps Scale AI's Alexandr Wang to lead new AI 'superintelligence' lab-
Meta is taking a bold step in the AI race by launching a new artificial intelligence research lab focused on 'superintelligence,' and the tech giant is bringing in a major name to help lead the way. According to
The New York Times
, Meta has tapped Alexandr Wang, the CEO and founder of Scale AI, to join this high-stakes initiative. This move signals Meta's intent to aggressively compete in the global race for artificial general intelligence (AGI).
What's Meta doing with this new AI superintelligence lab?
Mark Zuckerberg is going all-in on a new high-stakes project: a 'superintelligence' lab focused on building AI systems that surpass human-level intelligence. The initiative is still under wraps, but reports say Meta is recruiting around 50 elite engineers and researchers, offering jaw-dropping salaries — even nine-figure packages — to lock in the brightest minds.
It's a clear sign that Meta is looking to leapfrog rivals like OpenAI and Google DeepMind, who have dominated headlines with GPT and Gemini models. Now, Zuckerberg wants Meta back at the front of the pack — and fast.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You
Villas In Dubai | Search Ads
Get Rates
Why is Meta partnering with Scale AI?
Meta's also reportedly backing Scale AI with a deal that could exceed
$15 billion
, a massive investment in one of the most important companies in the AI infrastructure space.
Scale AI, founded by Alexandr Wang, is known for supplying high-quality training data to power advanced AI systems. Its clients include OpenAI, Microsoft, and even the U.S. Department of Defense. By securing a deep partnership with Scale, Meta gains access to frontier data capabilities essential for training and aligning its next-gen models.
Live Events
This deal could end up being Meta's largest external AI investment ever.
Why is Meta creating a new AI superintelligence lab now?
The story begins with growing frustration at the top. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly been unhappy with how the company is trailing behind rivals like OpenAI and Google in the AI space. As per
Bloomberg
, Zuckerberg has started personally meeting top AI minds — even inviting them to his homes in Lake Tahoe and Palo Alto — to recruit talent directly. His goal? Build a team of around 50 top researchers and engineers focused solely on one mission: superintelligence.
This new lab will operate independently and is expected to focus on creating systems that go far beyond current AI models. Meta wants to build AGI — artificial general intelligence — which is still a loosely defined concept but generally refers to AI that can perform a wide range of tasks as well or better than humans.
Who is Alexandr Wang and why does his move to Meta matter?
Wang is not just any tech founder — he's the 27-year-old CEO of Scale AI, a company currently valued at $13.8 billion and considered a crucial player in the AI infrastructure space. Scale AI provides data labeling and model training services used by companies like OpenAI, Meta, Microsoft, and NVIDIA.
Bringing Wang into the fold gives Meta a massive edge. Not only is he one of the most well-connected names in AI, but
The New York Times
reports that Meta is also in talks to invest billions into Scale AI. This deal would allow Meta to bring in Wang's team as well, which could fast-track their progress.
Is Meta poaching talent from OpenAI and Google?
Yes, and not quietly either. Alongside Alexandr Wang, Meta has reportedly been poaching top researchers from both OpenAI and Google DeepMind, two of the most advanced AI research centers in the world. According to
The New York Times
, these recruitment efforts are part of a broader strategy to stack Meta's lab with elite minds capable of pushing boundaries.
Zuckerberg is serious about catching up and overtaking rivals. Sources told
Bloomberg
that he believes Meta 'can and should' be a leader in building AGI — something many experts say could still be decades away, if it's possible at all.
What exactly is superintelligence, and why is it important?
Superintelligence is a term that gets thrown around a lot, but here, it refers to AI systems that could eventually surpass human intelligence in reasoning, problem-solving, creativity, and decision-making. It's the next level beyond large language models like ChatGPT or Meta's LLaMA.
Meta wants to be the company that builds this kind of system — not just a smarter chatbot, but a machine that can reason like a human or better. That's a huge leap, and it's one that would put Meta in a dominant position across industries, from healthcare to defense to education.
Can Meta catch up in the AI arms race?
That's the billion-dollar question. Meta has the money, the platform (think: Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), and now, it seems, the talent. But it still trails companies like OpenAI and Google DeepMind when it comes to cutting-edge AI research.
With this new lab, plus the potential multi-billion-dollar investment in Scale AI, Zuckerberg is betting big — not just on the future of Meta, but on the future of how AI shapes society. And he's doing it fast.
It's also worth noting that Meta has already introduced LLaMA 3, its latest open-source AI model, in 2024 — and plans for LLaMA 4 are underway. Still, with this lab, the goal shifts from catching up to leading.
What's next for Meta and the future of AI?
Meta's move to tap Alexandr Wang and launch a new superintelligence lab is more than just a headline — it's a sign that the competition for AGI is heating up. With other tech giants making their own AI breakthroughs, the next few years could define not only the future of Meta but also how the world interacts with intelligent systems.
One thing is clear: Meta doesn't just want to participate in the AI race — it wants to win it.
FAQs:
Q1: What is Meta's new AI superintelligence lab about?
It's a new AI lab focused on building AGI and led by Scale AI's Alexandr Wang.
Q2: Why did Meta tap Alexandr Wang for its AI lab?
Because Wang leads Scale AI, a major name in AI data and infrastructure.