Meta Forms Superintelligence Labs and Hires Alexandr Wang as AI Chief
Meta reorganizes its artificial intelligence division into a new Superintelligence Labs unit led by Scale AI founder Alexandr Wang. The bold restructuring aims to develop artificial general intelligence and counter recent competitive setbacks.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg launches a sweeping reorganization of the company's artificial intelligence efforts by forming a new division called Meta Superintelligence Labs. The ambitious unit is led by Alexandr Wang, founder and former CEO of data-labeling startup Scale AI, who steps into the newly created role of chief AI officer. Wang is joined by former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman, who co-leads the labs to steer product development and applied AI research.
This aggressive pivot comes after internal turmoil and a lukewarm reception to Meta's latest open-source model, Llama 4. Analysts note that the company loses ground to AI rivals like Google, OpenAI, and China's DeepSeek, sparking the need for a reinvigorated strategy. The new Superintelligence Labs prioritizes developing artificial general intelligence machines capable of surpassing human cognitive ability, with hopes of transforming Meta AI tools, smart glasses, and video-generation products into major revenue streams.
Zuckerberg personally spearheads a high-stakes recruitment drive to staff the new division, reportedly making million-dollar offers via WhatsApp and investing $14.3 billion into Scale AI earlier this month. Notable hires include talent from Safe Superintelligence, DeepMind, OpenAI, and Anthropic, drawing sharp criticism from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who claims Meta offers his employees bonuses as high as $100 million in recruitment attempts.