Meta Launches AI Superintelligence Lab, Offers Nine-Figure Packages to Lure Top Talent
Meta is intensifying its pursuit of artificial general intelligence with the formation of a new AI superintelligence lab, according to reports from The New York Times and Bloomberg via Axios. As expected, this is being spearheaded personally by CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
The Meta AI superintelligence lab initiative includes aggressive recruitment efforts and unprecedented compensation offers, reaching into nine-figure ranges, to secure top-tier AI talent.
Building the World’s Most Advanced AI System
The Meta AI superintelligence lab’s objective is clear: to build a superintelligent AI platform that surpasses human cognitive capabilities. The Times reported that Alexandr Wang, founder of data infrastructure firm Scale AI, will join the lab’s efforts. Meta is also said to be in discussions to invest billions into Scale and onboard several of its employees.
Zuckerberg’s personal involvement extends beyond high-level oversight. Bloomberg notes that he has taken a direct role in recruiting for the roughly 50-person team and has physically reorganized Meta’s office space so new AI hires sit closer to him. These moves underscore a hands-on approach intended to reinvigorate the company’s AI momentum.
Record-Breaking Pay to Attract AI Leaders
In an increasingly competitive AI landscape, Meta appears determined to outbid rivals. According to the Times, researchers from competing firms have received offers ranging from seven to nine figures. Some of these offers have reportedly been accepted, though Meta has also lost out to competitors with annual offers exceeding $2 million.
Deedy Das, a venture capitalist at Menlo Ventures, echoed this trend in a post on X, writing that “at least three” recent Meta offers were outmatched by competitors in just the past week.
Frustration Driving Urgency
The reports highlight growing frustration within Meta’s executive ranks over the company’s perceived lag in AI development. Public missteps and delays have led Zuckerberg to adopt a more direct leadership style for the initiative, seeking to correct course and close the gap with rivals such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind.
Neither Meta nor Scale AI offered public comment as of Tuesday morning.
What’s Next in the AI Arms Race?
Meta’s latest initiative signals a new phase in the AI race — one where financial constraints take a backseat to strategic urgency. As the competition for elite researchers intensifies, other tech giants may follow suit with equally aggressive hiring packages and R&D investments.
Whether Meta’s superintelligence lab delivers on its ambitious goals remains to be seen, but the scale and speed of the effort mark a definitive shift in how the company approaches AI leadership.
