Alexandr Wang
Alexandr Wang, the 28-year-old founder of Scale AI, has been thrust into the global spotlight after Mark Zuckerberg tapped him for a major $14.3 billion AI initiative. The partnership cements Wang as one of tech’s youngest power players. alexanddeer/Instagram

Mark Zuckerberg has made one of the most aggressive strategic moves of his career, securing 28-year-old Scale AI co-founder Alexandr Wang to spearhead Meta's next major technological gamble: Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL).

The move follows Meta's massive US$14.3 billion investment for a 49% stake in Scale AI, instantly valuing the company at more than US$29 billion.

The appointment, formalised in June 2025, marks a dramatic escalation in the competition between Meta, Google DeepMind and OpenAI and positions Wang, now Chief AI Officer, at the heart of Meta's most ambitious AI initiative to date.

The Prodigy Behind the AI Data Empire

Alexandr Wang's personal journey mirrors the dramatic rise of the AI industry itself. Born in New Mexico to Chinese immigrant physicists, Wang displayed a formidable aptitude for mathematics and computer science from a young age. His career path initially led him to the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), but in a move now synonymous with Silicon Valley success, he dropped out in 2016 at age 19 after a brief stint studying machine learning to launch his own enterprise.

That venture, Scale AI, was built on the fundamental premise that the burgeoning field of machine learning would require vast volumes of high-quality, annotated data for training.

The company quickly became indispensable, supplying the complex labelled data needed by major global players, including NVIDIA, Amazon, and Meta itself. By 2021, at age 24, Wang became the world's youngest self-made billionaire following a fundraising round that valued Scale AI at $7.3 billion. His background as a former tech wunderkind and CEO of a critical AI infrastructure provider makes him a uniquely qualified and highly expensive asset for Zuckerberg's vision.

Commanding Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL)

With Meta's multi-billion-dollar investment in Scale AI confirmed, Wang has been placed in command of Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL). This new division signals a precise and aggressive change in strategy for the US tech giant, shifting resources and focus to the cutting edge of artificial intelligence development.

He has swiftly moved to restructure Meta's extensive AI efforts into four dedicated focus areas, aiming to streamline and accelerate the development of general-purpose superintelligent systems. As part of the deal, Wang stepped down as CEO of Scale AI but remains on the company's board, with Uber Eats executive Jason Droege stepping in as interim CEO.

The Race for Superintelligence and Market Advantage

Meta's massive financial commitment to Scale AI is about more than just personnel; it is a calculated bid to gain market advantage in the increasingly fierce AI landscape. By securing Wang's leadership and Scale AI's proprietary data expertise, Meta has acquired a crucial building block necessary for creating truly next-generation AI models.

This strategic investment directly positions Meta to compete more effectively with sector leaders such as OpenAI and Google DeepMind, both of whom are also targeting the elusive goal of 'superintelligence' a concept referring to AI systems that surpass human intellectual capability. The deal is Meta's second-largest acquisition, only behind the $19 billion purchase of WhatsApp in 2014.

Meta's push on Scale AI aims to secure the infrastructure needed to build the next generation of AI models.

Writer's pick