Meta’s Superintelligence Gamble: Billion-Dollar AI Bet Faces Early Turbulence
Meta’s ambitious push into artificial general intelligence (AGI) is facing unexpected headwinds just weeks after its high-profile launch. Spearheaded by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the initiative—dubbed Meta Superintelligence Labs—was designed to rival OpenAI and Google by building a world-class AI team capable of achieving “superintelligence”.
Billion-Dollar Blitz
Zuckerberg personally led a talent acquisition blitz, offering lucrative packages to top AI researchers from OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and beyond. The centerpiece of this strategy was a $14.3 billion investment in Scale AI, securing a 49% stake and onboarding its 28-year-old CEO Alexandr Wang to lead the new division.
Talent Turnover Begins
Despite the aggressive hiring spree, Meta is now grappling with a wave of resignations. Notable exits include:
- A prominent IIT Bombay alumnus who left just months after joining from DeepMind.
- A key product director behind Meta’s Llama models, now headed to OpenAI.
- Former OpenAI researchers Avi Verma and Ethan Knight, both of whom returned to their previous employer shortly after joining Meta.
These departures raise concerns about Meta’s internal culture and its ability to retain top-tier talent, even with multimillion-dollar offers.
Mission vs. Mercenary
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reportedly referred to Meta’s hiring tactics as “mercenary,” contrasting them with OpenAI’s “missionary” ethos. The implication: purpose-driven environments may be more attractive than high paychecks alone.
Structural Shake-Up
In response, Meta is restructuring its AI division into four units:
| Division | Focus Area |
|---|---|
| TBD Lab | Training and scaling large models for superintelligence |
| FAIR | Innovation engine for Meta Superintelligence Labs |
| Products & Applied Research | Bridging research with product development |
| MSL Infra | Building advanced infrastructure and developer tools |
Despite the turbulence, Wang insists Meta is doubling down on 25its AI ambitions, calling reports of setbacks “clearly mistaken”.
What’s Next?
With AI evolving at breakneck speed, Meta’s ability to stabilize its superintelligence team and deliver breakthrough innovations will be critical. The stakes are high—and the competition is fierce.
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