Meta, the company behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is about to take a bold leap in the tech race by creating a new laboratory dedicated to developing so-called “superintelligence” — a concept of artificial intelligence that would surpass human cognitive capabilities. The information was published by the newspaper O Globo.
According to these sources, Meta has recruited Alexandr Wang, founder of AI startup Scale AI, to lead the new project. The company is also reportedly in negotiations to invest billions of dollars in Scale as part of a broader deal that would include the migration of other startup employees to the new laboratory. Wang, 28 years old, is a prominent figure in the sector, and his hiring is seen as a clear attempt by Meta to regain prominence against competitors like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft.
Behind the scenes, the company has been offering hefty salary packages — between seven and nine figures — to dozens of elite sector specialists, with some already accepting to join the new initiative. The creation of the laboratory is part of a broader restructuring in Meta’s AI divisions, which have faced internal management challenges, talent loss, and failed launches in recent years.
Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, has been heavily investing in the sector and argues that artificial intelligence is “potentially one of the most important innovations in history.” In February, he stated: “This year will define the course of the future.” The company’s strategy includes incorporating AI into all its products — from smart glasses to social apps — and maintaining an aggressive stance against competitors’ advances.
Superintelligence, although still theoretical, is considered the pinnacle of AI development. While companies like OpenAI and Google aim to build so-called AGI (Artificial General Intelligence), capable of performing any human intellectual task, superintelligence represents an even greater leap — a system that would significantly surpass human intellect.
Meta’s Chief AI Scientist, Yann LeCun, has overseen research in the field since 2013, when Zuckerberg created the first internal laboratory after losing the bid for DeepMind to Google. LeCun, winner of the 2018 Turing Award, is one of the leading voices in the field, although he holds views distinct from part of Silicon Valley. “AGI will not be achieved with current technologies,” he often argues.
Meta also heavily bets on an open-source approach. Its Llama models and the Meta AI chatbot — integrated into its main platforms — are examples of this strategy. In May, Zuckerberg stated that more than a billion people use Meta AI monthly.
However, the path has not been without stumbles. The company has been criticized for allegedly manipulating benchmarks to favor its own products and faces fierce competition for talent. Recently, engineers from the AI division left the company, dissatisfied with the work pace and internal disputes.
Wang’s hiring, in this context, is symbolic. The entrepreneur founded Scale AI in 2016 and turned the company into a strategic provider of labeling and data processing services for giants like Microsoft and OpenAI. More recently, Scale has expanded into projects in public and private sectors, focusing on corporate AI-based solutions.
Wang has already demonstrated ambition and strategic vision. In 2020, he published an open letter in The Washington Post asking then-President Donald Trump to increase U.S. investments in AI. “The United States needs to win the artificial intelligence war,” he wrote.
Source: www.brasil247.com