Alexandr Wang, the youthful CEO and co-founder of Scale AI, is rapidly becoming one of the most influential figures in the global artificial intelligence race. At just 27, Wang has transformed Scale AI from a modest data-labelling startup into a foundational player in the AI ecosystem, quietly powering everything from autonomous vehicles to advanced language models like GPT and LLaMA. Now, he’s at the helm of a bold new partnership with Meta, overseeing what could be a game-changing $15 billion push toward artificial superintelligence (ASI).
Meta’s decision to entrust Wang with such a monumental task signals both ambition and urgency. The tech giant, known for its vast social platforms and heavy investments in the metaverse, is now shifting focus to regain lost ground in the AI arms race. With OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic already making strides, Meta is turning to Scale AI’s infrastructure and Wang’s expertise to fast-track development of AI systems that could eventually surpass human cognitive capabilities.
At the core of Wang’s vision is the power of data. Scale AI has mastered the process of curating and annotating massive, high-quality datasets—an often overlooked but essential ingredient for training frontier AI models. Under Wang’s leadership, Scale has become the scaffolding upon which many top-tier AI models have been built. This expertise now serves as the foundation for Meta’s new ASI research lab.
But the road to artificial superintelligence is uncharted and controversial. Critics question whether ASI is truly achievable or safe. However, Wang believes the pursuit is not only possible but necessary. “We’re standing at the edge of something transformational,” he recently said, emphasizing the need for both ambition and responsibility.
As Meta bets billions and aligns itself with Wang’s strategic direction, the world watches with a mix of anticipation and apprehension. If successful, this partnership could redefine the technological frontier and cement Alexandr Wang’s place in history as one of the architects of the post-human intelligence era. Whether that future proves utopian or dystopian remains to be seen but there’s no denying it’s arriving faster than most expected.
