Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has intensified his push to keep pace in the artificial intelligence race after the company’s latest generative AI models underperformed expectations this spring. Despite touting Meta’s “beast” of an AI system, internal metrics and public demonstrations failed to impress compared to competitors like OpenAI and Google. In response, Zuckerberg overhauled Meta’s AI leadership, invested $14.3 billion in Scale AI, and began aggressively recruiting AI talent — including outreach to over 45 OpenAI researchers, some offered packages as high as $100 million.
Internally, Meta executives even discussed “de-investing” in its Llama open-source model amid questions about its competitiveness. Tensions have grown as Zuckerberg, known for his intense, hands-on management, directs efforts toward building a “superintelligence lab” capable of rivaling the industry’s leaders. Meta has significantly expanded its AI division, but challenges remain — including burnout, internal confusion over the company’s AI vision, and doubts about whether Meta can become a true AI superpower. Zuckerberg’s approach reflects a broader Silicon Valley arms race in which top AI engineers are being courted with NBA-level compensation.
