Jun 19th 2025|SAN FRANCISCO When Mark Zuckerberg decided to launch his quest for the metaverse in 2021, he threw fistfuls of cash at the effort. Meta’s boss is now repeating the act, this time with generative artificial intelligence (AI). Hot on the heels of what may be the world’s most expensive acquihire—a $14.
3bn deal to buy 49% of Scale AI, a data-labelling firm whose main asset is Alexandr Wang, its 28-year-old founder—people close to the matter say Mr Zuckerberg is planning to offer more than $1bn combined for two of Silicon Valley’s hottest AI brain boxes, who would work under Mr Wang. It marks the start of a reset of Meta’s generative-AI ambitions.
Explore moreArtificial intelligenceBusinessOpenAIThis article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline “Zucked in”BusinessJune 21st 2025→AI is turning the ad business upside down→Victoria’s Secret is struggling to reinvent itself→The family saga at Germany’s media colossus takes an unusual twist →Mark Zuckerberg is spending megabucks on an AI hiring spree→Why China is giving away its tech for free→How to build the right corporate culture→Can a car boss turn around Gucci’s owner?
From the June 21st 2025 editionDiscover stories from this section and more in the list of contents⇒Explore the editionReuse this content
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Jun 19th 2025|SAN FRANCISCO When Mark Zuckerberg decided to launch his quest for the metaverse in 2021, he threw fistfuls of cash at the effort. Meta’s boss is now repeating the act, this time with generative artificial intelligence (AI). Hot on the heels of what may be the world’s most expensive acquihire—a...
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Jun 19th 2025|SAN FRANCISCO When Mark Zuckerberg decided to launch his quest for the metaverse in 2021, he threw fistfuls of cash at the effort. Meta’s boss is now repeating the act, this time with generative artificial intelligence (AI). Hot on the heels of what may be the world’s most expensive acquihire—a $14.
3bn deal to buy 49% of Scale AI, a data-labelling firm whose main asset is Alexandr Wang, its 28-year-old founder—people close to the matter say Mr Zuckerberg is planning to offer more than $1bn combined for two of Silicon Valley’s hottest AI brain boxes, who would work under Mr Wang. It marks the start of a reset of Meta’s generative-AI ambitions.
Explore moreArtificial intelligenceBusinessOpenAIThis article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline “Zucked in”BusinessJune 21st 2025→AI is turning the ad business upside down→Victoria’s Secret is struggling to reinvent itself→The family saga at Germany’s media colossus takes an unusual twist →Mark Zuckerberg is spending megabucks on an AI hiring spree→Why China is giving away its tech for free→How to build the right corporate culture→Can a car boss turn around Gucci’s owner?
From the June 21st 2025 editionDiscover stories from this section and more in the list of contents⇒Explore the editionReuse this content
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