Meta's AI Push: 49% Stake in Scale AI, 14.3 Billion USD, and Key Hires

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has been actively pursuing acquisitions and talent recruitment in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector. In early 2023, Meta attempted to acquire Safe Superintelligence, a startup founded by the former chief scientist of OpenAI. However, the offer was rejected by the founder. In response, Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, turned his attention to recruiting key personnel from the startup. Daniel Gross, the CEO and co-founder of Safe Superintelligence, and Nat Friedman, the former CEO of GitHub, were both targeted by Meta. Gross, a seasoned entrepreneur and AI investor, has a notable track record, including the sale of his search engine company Cue to Apple for approximately 40 million USD. Friedman, on the other hand, has a significant presence in Silicon Valley, having co-founded two startups and served as the CEO of GitHub, where he increased the company's valuation from 7.5 billion USD to 16.5 billion USD before leaving in 2021.

Meta's interest in Safe Superintelligence is part of a broader strategy to bolster its AI capabilities. The company recently acquired a 49% stake in Scale AI for 14.3 billion USD, securing the services of its founder, Alexander Wang. This move is just the beginning of Meta's ambitious plan to recruit top AI talent. The company has also been actively courting researchers from other prominent AI firms, offering competitive compensation packages. OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, has acknowledged Meta as a major competitor, noting that Meta has attempted to lure OpenAI employees with significant signing bonuses and high salaries, although these efforts have not been successful so far.

Meta's aggressive recruitment strategy is not limited to individual hires. The company is also exploring the possibility of investing in NFDG, a venture capital firm co-founded by Gross and Friedman. NFDG has a portfolio that includes several high-profile companies, such as Perplexity AI, Character.ai, and Figma. This investment would further solidify Meta's position in the AI landscape by aligning it with key players in the industry.

Ask Aime: Who is Meta's next top AI talent?

The recruitment of top AI talent is a critical component of Meta's strategy to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving AI sector. By acquiring companies like Scale AI and attempting to acquire Safe Superintelligence, Meta is positioning itself to lead the development of advanced AI technologies. The company's efforts to recruit key personnel from these startups demonstrate its commitment to building a world-class AI team. As Meta continues to invest in AI, it is likely to face stiff competition from other tech giants, including OpenAI and Microsoft, which are also aggressively pursuing AI talent and technologies.