Meta just dropped $14.3 billion for a near half-stake in Scale AI — but the real headline is the hire of Scale’s 28-year-old CEO, Alexandr Wang.
Zuckerberg is betting Wang’s deep Silicon Valley ties and “wartime CEO” energy will finally turbocharge Meta’s stalled AI push. The deal values Scale at $29 billion and is seen as a talent heist aimed squarely at rivals like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic.
Scale’s core business? Labeling the data that feeds AI giants like Meta and OpenAI. The startup’s army includes over 100,000 gig workers globally, recently shifting focus to U.S.-based contributors and high-specialty AI training. 
Wang’s not your typical AI researcher. He’s a math whiz and a dealmaker who knows all the key players—including OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Mira Murati, and even political heavyweights like Keir Starmer and Narendra Modi. His network is a strategic weapon.
Meta is also in late-stage talks to scoop up Dan Gross and Nat Friedman, co-founders of Safe Superintelligence (SSI), adding fuel to the war for AI talent.
But Wang’s style has critics. Some insiders question his technical chops and label his network-building as opportunistic branding. Scale counters with a defense of Wang as hardworking and conscientious.
Scaling up the team fast is Meta’s key bet. An insider put it bluntly:
“This is the great bet: the most important thing short term is the research team they assemble quickly,” said someone close to Scale. “They’re making incredible offers and are trying to hire a talented team as soon as possible. Alex knows all of these people . . . It’s almost like a heist.”
Scale’s future is uncertain. OpenAI and Google are already moving away from using Scale’s services, wary of Meta’s 49% ownership. But Scale insists it still holds strong customer ties and is growing business with the U.S. government.
Jason Droege, Scale’s new CEO, wrote:
“We have an exceptional team, a clear vision, and the resources to achieve truly remarkable things.”
Meta’s latest AI release, Llama 4, disappointed on some independent benchmarks. The internal question is whether Wang’s recruitment magic is enough to close the gap.
OpenAI called Meta’s talent raids “$100 million sign-on bonuses and even higher pay.” The war for AI brains is heating up, and Meta just made a massive all-in move.
