Tech giant Meta is aggressively recruiting top talent in the field of artificial intelligence, investing substantially to take the lead in this rapidly evolving sector.
Meta Aggressively Pursues Artificial Superintelligence
In a significant move, Meta, the tech giant behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is making a major push towards Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) with the launch of the Meta Superintelligence Lab (MSL) in July 2025. Led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, MSL consolidates all AI research and product AI teams with the goal of developing AI systems that outperform humans across various tasks, aiming for Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and beyond [1].
The strategy at Meta centers around creating "personal superintelligence" - AI digital companions designed to assist with personal relationships, memory, creativity, and daily life. Unlike competitors like OpenAI and Google, which focus more on business automation, Meta's vision includes AI that can perceive through smart devices and manage routine personal tasks autonomously [2].
To achieve this, Meta is making a massive financial commitment, estimated at £72 billion ($100+ billion over the coming years), primarily funded by its strong advertising cash flows. This investment is channeled into building multi-gigawatt data centers, such as Prometheus and Hyperion clusters, to provide the necessary computing power, and poaching top AI talent from rivals like OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Anthropic, and Apple with lucrative compensation packages [1][2][4].
Meta's chief AI scientist, Yann Le Cun, has outlined a roadmap involving architectures like V-JEPA V2, focusing on hierarchically planning complex tasks and developing agentic AI systems with mental models of user knowledge and preferences. These systems would be capable of layered action planning, from simple tasks like booking flights to complex sequences requiring long-term hierarchical planning, though many challenges remain unsolved [3].
Meta plans to leverage its vast user data from platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp as a foundation to train and refine its superintelligence models [2]. The personal superintelligence vision aligns with enhancing user engagement and retention by embedding AI deeply into everyday personal and social interactions. By pioneering advanced AI companions, Meta aims to create new product categories beyond social media, potentially transforming how users interact with technology and augmenting digital experiences.
The substantial investment and talent acquisition suggest that Meta views ASI as a crucial future growth vector, especially after the metaverse project's financial setbacks [4]. CFRA Research analyst Angelo Zino believes that Meta has the money to spend to build its AI team and "steal" from rivals, and investors seem to be supportive of this approach, with Meta's shares rising around 20% since the start of this year [5].
However, some analysts question whether the development of artificial superintelligence will immediately benefit Meta's core business. Zack Kass, an AI consultant and former OpenAI go-to-market lead, believes that if Zuckerberg succeeds with his vision of building superintelligence, it could propel Meta far beyond a social media company [6]. Google CEO Sundar Pichai has also been questioned about the AI talent war during an earnings call, indicating Wall Street's interest in the competition [7].
In conclusion, Meta is pursuing an ambitious, well-funded, and technically sophisticated strategy to develop artificial superintelligence focused on personal AI companions. This effort leverages Meta’s massive data resources, computing infrastructure, and top-tier AI talent, aiming not only to lead AI research but to transform and expand its core consumer technology platforms through ASI-driven innovation [1][2][3][4].
[1] https://www.theverge.com/2025/7/1/23795966/meta-artificial-intelligence-ai-superintelligence-lab-mark-zuckerberg [2] https://www.wired.com/story/meta-mark-zuckerberg-artificial-superintelligence-ai/ [3] https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/08/12/1035454/meta-ai-research-yann-lecun-superintelligence/ [4] https://www.reuters.com/technology/ai-race-heats-meta-takes-aim-openai-2025-08-16/ [5] https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/01/meta-stocks-rise-on-ai-ambitions-as-zuckerberg-aims-to-own-foundational-platform-for-next-major-technology-wave.html [6] https://www.fastcompany.com/90667942/meta-is-pursuing-artificial-superintelligence-and-its-going-to-be-crazy-expensive [7] https://www.wsj.com/articles/google-ceo-sundar-pichai-addresses-ai-talent-war-on-earnings-call-11663990800
- In line with Meta's ambition, the company intends to invest heavily in the technological aspect of artificial-intelligence, focusing on developing AI systems that surpass human abilities in various tasks, aligning with their goal of achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and beyond.
- Setting itself apart from competitors, Meta's AI strategy centers on creating personal AI digital companions that can perceive through smart devices, managing routine personal tasks autonomously and enhancing user engagement across diverse domains, not just business automation, leveraging technology to transform daily life.
