Meta Invests $14 Billion in Scale AI, Hires Founder Alexandr Wang to Lead New AI Lab

Mark Zuckerberg is investing $14 billion in Scale AI, a data-labelling and annotation startup, as part of a deal that will give Meta a 49% stake in the company. Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang will lead a new AI research lab at Meta and bring some of his colleagues with him. The deal is seen as Zuckerberg's biggest bet on AI, following the lukewarm launch of Meta's Llama AI models.

Meta Platforms, led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, has announced a significant investment in Scale AI, a data-labelling and annotation startup. The deal, valued at $14 billion, will give Meta a 49% stake in the company. This investment is part of Zuckerberg's broader strategy to bolster Meta's AI capabilities, following the mixed reception of its Llama AI models [1].

The investment includes the appointment of Alexandr Wang, the founder and CEO of Scale AI, to lead a new AI research lab at Meta. Wang will bring some of his colleagues with him to the lab, which is expected to accelerate Meta's AI development efforts [2]. This move is seen as Zuckerberg's most substantial bet on AI to date, as it aims to address the underperformance of Meta's AI models and compete with other tech giants like OpenAI [3].

The new AI research lab is expected to focus on developing "artificial general intelligence" (AGI), which aims to match or surpass human capabilities in multiple areas. This investment is part of a broader strategy by Meta to allocate up to $72 billion in capital expenditures for AI infrastructure this year [4].

The deal also signals Meta's intention to become a major player in the AI server market, with plans for a multi-gigawatt data center. This infrastructure investment is part of Zuckerberg's broader vision to make Meta one of the most powerful AI server operators in the world [3].

The investment in Scale AI is a significant development for the AI industry, as it highlights the growing importance of data labelling and annotation in AI model development. The deal also underscores Meta's commitment to advancing its AI capabilities, following the lukewarm launch of its Llama AI models [1].

References:
[1] https://startupnews.fyi/2025/06/10/metas-mark-zuckerberg-hiring-for-new-superintelligence-ai-team-report/
[2] https://www.financialexpress.com/life/technology-facebook-boss-mark-zuckerberg-hiring-for-new-superintelligence-ai-team-details-inside-3874782/
[3] https://www.cryptopolitan.com/zuckerberg-personally-hiring-ai-team-at-meta/
[4] https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/META-PLATFORMS-INC-10547141/news/Mark-Zuckerberg-hiring-to-form-superintelligence-AI-team-50199848/