Mark Zuckerberg announced a major push into artificial intelligence with the launch of Meta Superintelligence Labs. According to a memo shared with staff and reported by Bloomberg, the new division will lead Meta’s AI research and development. Alexandr Wang, former CEO of Scale AI, recently joined Meta through a multibillion-dollar deal and will serve as chief AI officer. Additionally, Nat Friedman, ex-GitHub CEO, will work alongside Wang to help direct the team. The company has also hired 11 new AI experts, including talent from Anthropic, Google DeepMind, and OpenAI.
Competitive Hiring and Acquisition Efforts
Zuckerberg’s aggressive recruitment strategy reflects Meta’s determination to catch up with rivals. As reported by The Verge’s Alex Heath, the company is offering salaries “well into the eight-figure range” to attract top AI talent. Meanwhile, Meta explored acquisitions of several AI startups such as Mira Murati’s Thinking Machines Lab, Perplexity, and Ilya Sutskever’s Safe Superintelligence. However, these talks did not advance to formal offers due to various reasons, according to Heath. These moves highlight Meta’s urgent drive to strengthen its AI capabilities amid fierce competition.
Future AI Research and Development
Looking ahead, Zuckerberg confirmed that Meta plans to start research on its next generation of AI models. He aims to push the frontier within the next year or so, signaling the company’s commitment to leading innovation. This message was included in the full memo published by CNBC. With new leadership and heavy investment, Meta’s Superintelligence Labs will play a crucial role in the company’s AI future.
