Meta, the company behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is starting a new research lab to create superintelligence, New York Times reports (unpaywalled copy).
This lab will help Meta keep up in the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. To lead this effort, Meta has hired Alexandr Wang, the 28-year-old founder of Scale AI. Meta is also investing billions in Scale AI (unpaywalled copy) and offering high salaries to attract top AI researchers from companies like OpenAI and Google. Some have already joined.
This new lab is part of a bigger change in how Meta handles AI. The company has faced challenges, including losing employees and releasing AI products that didn’t work well. Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s leader, has spent billions to make AI a key part of the company. Since ChatGPT was released in 2022, Meta has added AI to its products, like smart glasses and an app called Meta AI.
Competing in the AI race
Staying competitive in AI is vital for Meta, as companies like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft are also investing heavily. These companies spend billions to hire talent and partner with AI startups. Superintelligence is a future goal, beyond AGI.
Meta has worked on AI for over a decade, starting with a lab in 2013 led by Yann LeCun, a leading AI expert. LeCun believes new ideas are needed to reach AGI, unlike some who think current tech is close. Meta has shared its AI code, called Llama, for free to encourage developers to use it. However, recent employee losses and criticism over misleading performance claims have created setbacks. Some developers were upset when Meta’s tests made its AI seem better than it was.
Meta hopes Wang’s expertise will help it lead in AI. To avoid legal issues after past acquisition disputes, Meta is carefully structuring its deal with Scale AI. This move shows Meta’s determination to win in the global AI competition.