Meta's Stock Soars 14% to Record High on AI Push

Meta's stock price reached an unprecedented high as CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the recruitment of several high-profile AI researchers from prominent rivals, including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google. This strategic move is part of Meta's aggressive push into the artificial intelligence sector, aiming to establish itself as a leader in the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI).

Zuckerberg's memo confirmed the addition of four more researchers from OpenAI: Jiahui Yu, Shuchao Bi, Shengjia Zhao, and Hongyu Ren. These hires are part of a broader initiative that includes 11 new AI experts, all of whom were recruited from leading AI firms. The company's aggressive hiring spree reflects its commitment to consolidating leadership, resources, and talent under a focused structure.

The formation of Superintelligence Labs, led by former Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang, marks a significant restructuring of Meta's AI operations. Wang, now serving as Meta’s Chief AI Officer, will be supported by Nat Friedman, the former CEO of GitHub, who will lead product development and applied research. This new division aims to accelerate Meta's pursuit of AGI by setting new industry standards within the next year.

To fuel this ambitious effort, Meta invested $14.3 billion into Scale AI, acquiring a 49% stake. This move not only secures Wang’s leadership but also represents a strategic bet on infrastructure. The company has also offered eight-figure compensation packages to attract these high-profile researchers, underscoring its commitment to securing top talent.

Zuckerberg emphasized that this effort is not just a product expansion but a critical mission for the future of human and machine interaction. "The work we’re doing here could define what intelligence means for the next hundred years. We’re treating this as an existential priority," he stated in an internal memo. This focus on AGI echoes similar ambitions by rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic, but Meta is differentiating itself through vertical integration, proprietary compute, and long-term capital commitments.

Investors reacted positively to Meta’s announcement, with the company’s stock surging to a record high of $738.09. Analysts praised the clarity of Meta’s long-term AI strategy, citing the alignment of leadership, funding, and talent as key to its potential dominance in the AGI space. "This is one of the clearest signals yet that Meta is betting its future on AI, and they’re doing it with real firepower," an industry analyst noted.

With the launch of Superintelligence Labs, Meta is sending a clear message: it intends to be a world leader in artificial general intelligence. By securing high-profile AI leaders, investing billions into infrastructure, and attracting elite researchers from top firms, Meta is rapidly positioning itself at the center of the AGI race. Whether this vision succeeds or falters remains to be seen, but the scale, structure, and speed of execution are undeniably aggressive.