Meta's AI Dream Team: Managing Egos and Genius

Meta Platforms is assembling a team of AI experts from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google's DeepMind to develop artificial general intelligence. However, research suggests that packing a team with too much genius can lead to diminishing returns and poor chemistry. Managing a team of superstars requires clear lanes, effective communication, and collaboration, and avoiding jealousy, backstabbing, and sabotage. Meta's leaders, Alexandr Wang and Nat Friedman, face a significant challenge in keeping their team of 50 superintelligent individuals productive and collaborative.

Meta Platforms Inc. is investing heavily in assembling a team of AI experts from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google's DeepMind to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI). The initiative, led by Alexandr Wang and Nat Friedman, aims to catch up with competitors by concentrating top talent and providing unlimited resources. However, research suggests that managing such a high-caliber team presents significant challenges.

According to a study by Harvard Business School professor Boris Groysberg, teams composed entirely of high-IQ individuals are prone to prolonged arguments, lack cohesion, and struggle to reach decisions. This phenomenon, observed in the 1970s by management scholar Meredith Belbin, highlights the potential pitfalls of having too much talent in one group. Groysberg's research also indicates that adding more "all-star" analysts to research teams at elite firms can actually hurt performance once a certain point is reached, where analysts' egos take over and they start gatekeeping information instead of cooperating [2].

Effective management of such a team requires clear lanes for each member, open communication, and collaboration. Lindred Greer, a professor at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, emphasizes the importance of defining each person's role to prevent competition and jealousy. Anita Williams Woolley, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business, underscores the necessity of establishing a hierarchy to coordinate efforts, with decision-making rights clearly defined [2].

Compensation details for the new recruits have become public knowledge, which could strain team dynamics and influence the team's chemistry. Michael Dell, CEO of Dell Technologies Inc., warns that extravagant compensation packages could rankle veteran employees, potentially leading to discontent [2]. To avoid such issues, Wang and Friedman must ensure that each team member feels valued and that the team's shared purpose is clear.

Meta's challenge is to create a productive and collaborative environment that leverages the collective intelligence of its members. By addressing the potential pitfalls of managing a team of superstars, Meta can increase the likelihood of success in its pursuit of AGI.

References:
[1] https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/12/anthropic-takes-aim-at-openai-offers-claude-to-all-three-branches-of-government-for-1/
[2] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-14/meta-ai-team-is-management-challenge-for-alexandr-wang-nat-friedman