Meta has undergone a significant transformation, evolving from primarily a social networking company with platforms like Facebook and Instagram to a key player in artificial intelligence (AI) development. CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently emphasized this shift in a memo to employees, where he announced the establishment of a new superintelligence AI group.

This restructuring features the creation of Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL), which will be led by Alexandr Wang, the former CEO of Scale AI. Meta acquired Scale AI for a staggering $14 billion, highlighting the company’s serious commitment to AI advancement.

In his memo, Zuckerberg expressed his vision for the future, stating, “As the pace of AI progress accelerates, developing superintelligence is coming into sight… I am fully committed to doing what it takes for Meta to lead the way.” Nat Friedman, the former CEO of GitHub, will also play a crucial role in this initiative alongside Wang.

While the memo did not detail specific plans for the new AI team, it clarified that the aim is to create superintelligence AI capable of performing on par with or exceeding human abilities. Meta’s ambition to be a leader in AI is evident, with projections of spending hundreds of billions on various AI projects in the coming years.

Zuckerberg previously noted the potential risks of falling behind in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. He remarked, “I actually think all the companies that are investing are making a rational decision, because the downside of being behind is that you’re out of position for the most important technology for the next 10 to 15 years.”

Before acquiring Scale AI, Meta had been exploring partnerships with other AI companies, including talks with Mira Murati’s Thinking Machines Lab and Perplexity. Interestingly, Apple is now also considering acquiring Perplexity in hopes of enhancing its own struggling AI initiatives.