Star chase: Meta is deploying billions to acquire hot AI talent

Its $14.3 billion 'transfer fee' for Alexandr Wang is an eye-popper

- DAVE LEE

It sounded like something that should have come from the sports desk—a $14.3 billion transfer fee for a young, up-and-coming prospect as Meta looks to rebuild its team for the tough season ahead. The head coach is an under-pressure Mark Zuckerberg, and the hot talent is Alexandr Wang, 28. His company is Scale AI, and Meta is taking a 49% stake, it was confirmed last week.

Were this an acquisition, it would be the second largest in Meta's history after its $19 billion purchase of WhatsApp in 2014. But it's not an acquisition, so don't call it that, even though it bears many of the hallmarks of one.

Wang is going to join Meta as a top executive tasked with running a crack team to build an AI superintelligence, sitting next to Zuckerberg at Meta's headquarters. Other Scale AI employees will join, too, according to multiple reports. So—definitely not an acquisition, just an investment that also includes putting the company's top talent on Meta's payroll. Meanwhile, Meta has been trying to poach AI talent from Google and OpenAI with the promise of "seven-to nine-figure" salaries, the New York Times reported.