Meta’s latest power play: Acquiring Scale AI’s CEO

Meta acquires 49% of Scale AI and hires its CEO

Meta is doubling down on artificial intelligence — the tech giant invested $14.3 billion to acquire 49% of Scale AI, a data-labeling startup, and hired its founder Alexandr Wang.

The deal, which was first reported earlier this week, is now official. Meta's investment pushes Scale AI’s valuation above $29 billion, and the company paid entirely in cash. This marks one of Meta’s most notable “acqui-hire” moves in recent memory.

Wang will join Meta’s new AI lab focused on superintelligence, while Jason Droege from the founding team will step in as interim CEO of Scale AI.

With a workforce of around 1,000 employees, Scale AI will remain independent and continue working with tech giants like OpenAI and Google. However, due to the size of the deal, U.S. regulators are expected to review it for antitrust compliance.

This move reflects a growing trend in Big Tech: instead of full acquisitions, companies are opting to acquire talent, patents, and core technology. Meta’s decision comes after Llama models fell behind, aligning with Zuckerberg’s ambition to make a bold push in the superintelligence race.