NAT FRIEDMAN
Mark Zuckerberg's surprising move inside Meta AI labs to take on rivals OpenAI and Google. Here's what the tech billionaire is doing
Tech billionaire Mark Zuckerberg has made a surprising move inside the Meta AI labs to take on OpenAI and Google. He is now sitting next to Meta AI chief Alexandr Wang and former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman and is busy coding all day. It shows how seriously he is taking Meta's bid to compete with rivals in the generative AI race.
China probes Meta’s $2 billion AI deal amid reports that its highest-paid employee Alexandr Wang finds Zuckerberg’s micromanagement ‘suffocating’
Zuckerberg vs. Wang amid China probes Meta: China is investigating Meta's acquisition of AI startup Manus. This probe examines potential violations of laws concerning overseas technology transfers. The investigation adds to challenges for Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. He is investing heavily in artificial intelligence. Internal leadership issues are also surfacing. Alexandr Wang, a key AI hire, reportedly finds Zuckerberg's control stifling.
Meta to slash Metaverse budget by 30%; potential layoffs loom: Report
This is in contrast to Meta's CTO and head of Reality Labs, Andrew Bosworth, who, in January, said that 2025 would be one of the most important years in the history of Reality Labs, the business and research unit of Meta Platforms.
Meta appoints insider Vishal Shah to key AI role
Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg has appointed Vishal Shah to lead product management for AI products. This move highlights Big Tech's strong focus on artificial intelligence. Meta is actively competing with rivals like Microsoft and startups in developing advanced AI models. Shah previously managed product for Instagram and then led the Metaverse concept.
Meta's AI leaders discuss using Google, OpenAI models in apps: Report
Leaders at Meta's new AI organisation, Meta Superintelligence Labs, have explored integrating Google's Gemini model to deliver conversational, text-based responses for queries submitted to Meta AI, the company's primary chatbot, the report said.
Meta acquires AI audio startup WaveForms
Meta Platforms has acquired WaveForms AI, a startup using artificial intelligence (AI) to detect and mimic emotion in audio. Founded by former OpenAI and Google employees, WaveForms launched in December 2024. Its founders, Alexis Conneau and Coralie Lemaitre, will join Meta’s Superintelligence Labs as part of Meta’s growing focus on AI.
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Top Meta engineers have joined xAI: CEO Elon Musk
Taking to X, Musk revealed that many former Meta engineers have joined his AI startup, xAI. However, he pointed out that unlike Meta, xAI isn’t offering “insane” pay packages. In response, the Meta founder has dismissed these claims, saying the numbers are “inaccurate”.
Mark Zuckerberg wants everyone to have their own ‘personal superintelligence’
Zuckerberg laid out new plans to deliver personal superintelligence powered by AI to the general public. He said Meta's approach was distinct from other tech firms, as it eyed helping individuals achieve personal goals, create new things, and enhance daily life, rather than automating workplace tasks.
Meta, Microsoft hire top AI talent from DeepMind
Meta has reportedly hired three more AI researchers from Google DeepMind, according to The Information. Microsoft, too, has added several former DeepMind staff in recent months. The growing competition among tech giants highlights the race to secure top AI talent and strengthen their artificial intelligence capabilities.
Meta's Zuckerberg pledges hundreds of billions for AI data centers in superintelligence push
The social media giant is among the large technology companies that have chased high-profile deals and doled out multi-million-dollar pay packages in recent months to fast-track work on machines that can outthink humans on most tasks.
Zuckerberg announces Meta ‘superintelligence’ effort, more hires
Zuckerberg wrote Monday to employees that Meta’s AI efforts will fall under a new group called Meta Superintelligence Labs, which will be led by Alexandr Wang, the former CEO of data-labeling startup Scale AI, according to an internal memo reviewed by Bloomberg. Wang, whom Zuckerberg called the “most impressive founder of his generation,” will serve as chief AI officer.
Meta continues acquisition spree, grabs voice AI startup PlayAI
Meta has acquired voice AI startup Play AI, further deepening its push into artificial intelligence. The move comes amid a wave of strategic hires and investments, including a recent deal with Scale AI. Bloomberg reported that the entire team of PlayAI will be joining the Mark Zuckerberg-led firm the coming week.
Ruoming Pang salary: Who is Apple’s top AI engineer, set to receive a $200 million paycheque to join Zuckerberg’s Meta team?
Meta is offering huge pay packages to attract AI talent. Ruoming Pang from Apple received a deal worth over $200 million. This is for Meta's new superintelligence team. The team includes Nat Friedman and Daniel Gross. Alexandr Wang became chief AI officer. Sam Altman mentioned Meta's high signing bonuses. Mark Zuckerberg has hired researchers from OpenAI and Google.
Zuckerberg's Meta Superintelligence Labs poaches top AI talent in Silicon Valley
Meta Platforms is aggressively recruiting top AI talent for its Superintelligence Labs to compete with OpenAI and Google. This move follows staff departures and mixed reception to Meta's Llama 4 model. The company has hired executives from Scale AI, GitHub, and OpenAI, including key contributors to GPT-4o and Gemini, signaling a major push in the AI race.
Sutskever to lead Safe Superintelligence after Meta poaches CEO Gross in AI talent war
The development comes as tech giants such as Meta Platforms aggressively chase high-profile acquisitions and offer multi-million-dollar pay packages to attract top talent in the race to lead the next wave of artificial intelligence.
Zuckerberg's $100 million lure: Why top Chinese and Indian AI minds are joining his Superintelligence Project
Meta has assembled a "Superintelligence" AI team, poaching top researchers from OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. Led by Nat Friedman and Alexandr Wang, the team includes key figures behind GPT-4o and Gemini. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed concern over the talent drain, reportedly offering substantial retention packages to counter Meta's recruitment efforts.
Shadowfax files IPO papers; UPI cools in June
Logistics firm Shadowfax has become the latest new-age company to confidentially file for its IPO. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
Meta has set up AI superintelligence team with hires from OpenAI, Google, Anthropic: Reports
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in a recent podcast that Meta was recruiting AI researchers from his company, offering signing bonuses as high as $100 million. Separately, OpenAI’s chief research officer, Mark Chen, addressed Meta’s aggressive recruitment tactics in a memo sent to employees on June 29.
AI tool Xbow is one of America's best hackers
AI-powered cybersecurity tool Xbow has topped HackerOne’s US leaderboard, marking the first time an AI, not a human, leads in reported software vulnerabilities. Founded in 2024 by GitHub veteran Oege de Moor, Xbow automates penetration testing, recently raised $75 million, and is reshaping defense strategies in the era of AI-driven hacking.
Early investors await Meta-Scale deal windfall: Report
Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, Chase Coleman’s Tiger Global, and venture capital firm Accel are among investors expected to gain from the deal. Meta is planning to invest $15 billion in Scale AI, paying between $14 and $15 a share. Some of the earliest investors in Scale AI paid 1 to 3 cents per share.
The Bot Company, Kyle Vogt’s robotics startup, valued at $2 billion
The Bot Company, valued at $2 billion, has raised $150 million in funding. The company, focused on developing non-humanoid robots to assist with household tasks, was co-founded by former Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt, Paril Jain, and Luke Holoubek. This follows a previous $150 million funding round.
AI startup Basis raises $34 million for accounting automation 'agent'
New York-based Basis is part of a category of AI startups creating autonomous agents, or systems that use AI to perform actions on their own. Executives in the field such as OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar have said such systems will dominate the AI agenda next year, as models have recently gotten to the point where they can carry out long-term planning.
US-based AI startups that raised over $100 million in funding in 2024
Globally, however, AI startups have been defying the ‘funding winter’ plaguing startups post pandemic. In the US, for instance, AI startups received $27 billion in funding in April-June, accounting for nearly half of all startup funding in the country during that period, data showed. AI startups for the first time became the largest segment during that quarter, as per Crunchbase.
AI startup EvolutionaryScale raises $142 million to advance tech in biology
Calling it a "ChatGPT moment for biology," Lux Capital cofounder and managing partner Josh Wolfe told the company has developed the first large language model for creating novel proteins and other biological systems.
Behind Hume’s conversational AI with emotional intelligence
Hume AI, backed by various investors, introduces a voice AI with emotional intelligence understanding human emotions. Founded by Alan Cowen, the startup secures $50 million in funding. The AI utilizes an empathic large language model and integrates with GPT and Claude.
US-based voice AI startup ElevenLabs gains unicorn status after latest fundraising
ElevenLabs on Monday said it raised $80 million in Series B funding from investors led by venture capitalist Andreessen Horowitz along with entrepreneurs Nat Friedman and Daniel Gross, with participation from Sequoia Capital among others.
Jeff Bezos invests in AI-powered startup: Can Perplexity challenge Google?
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has invested in Perplexity, which can challenge Google. It works as a chatbot-style search engine that responds to queries using OpenAI’s GPT technology. It has been reported that it produces a direct text response to questions, rather than website links, using information from online sources. Know in detail.
Sam Altman, Peak XV fund AI startup founded by two Indian-origin teens
Induced is an AI-backed browser (RPA) robotic process automation platform that allows automation of workflows that require real-time reasoning or dynamic judgement (filtering leads, cross-referencing documents, etc). The startup was founded earlier this year by two Indian-origin teenagers, Aryan Sharma and Ayush Pathak, in Silicon Valley, California.
Microsoft-owned GitHub appoints new CEO in Cloud-AI era
Thomas Dohmke, currently chief product officer, will replace Nat Friedman from November 15, who will move into the role of chairman emeritus.
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