Jack Rae, a principal researcher from Google DeepMind, is anticipated to join Meta’s “superintelligence” team, according to several individuals familiar with the situation, who requested anonymity as the details are not publicly disclosed. Additionally, Meta has recruited Johan Schalkwyk, a machine learning lead at the AI voice startup Sesame AI Inc., sources mentioned.
Alexandr Wang, co-founder and CEO of Scale AI, is also expected to join the team following Meta’s finalization of a multibillion-dollar investment in the data labeling startup, which may be announced this week, as reported by Bloomberg News.
This new team is part of an ambitious and costly initiative by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to close the gap with competitors like Google and OpenAI after expressing dissatisfaction with the reception of the company’s latest AI product, Llama 4. Zuckerberg hopes that the new recruits will enhance Llama’s models and develop improved AI tools for voice and personalization features.
Meta and Zuckerberg are offering compensation packages totaling tens of millions of dollars over several years, which includes equity, as per insiders. A Meta spokesperson declined to provide comments. Rae confirmed his transition from Google to Meta but did not elaborate further. Schalkwyk has not responded to requests for comments.
Zuckerberg has started assembling a brain trust of AI researchers and engineers, occasionally meeting with potential candidates at his residences in Lake Tahoe and Palo Alto, California, as first reported by Bloomberg News. The CEO has often reached out directly to prospective hires, according to individuals familiar with the recruitment process. Meta plans to hire approximately 50 people for this new team, including a chief scientist to oversee the group, one source indicated.
The team is being formed as Meta approaches a deal to invest billions in Scale to enhance its AI endeavors. Scale employs numerous contractors to label data required by tech firms like Meta and OpenAI to train and refine their AI models.
Wang, the 28-year-old CEO of Scale, is a notable figure in the industry with established connections in Washington. Additional employees from Scale are expected to join Meta’s superintelligence team once the investment is finalized, as indicated by a source acquainted with the agreement. Following the closure of the deal, Scale is considering appointing its chief strategy officer, Jason Droege, as CEO, according to sources. The Information previously noted Droege’s candidacy for the role.
The three foundations of AI development are chips, talent, and data. Meta has a strong supply of chips. The partnership with Scale is expected to enhance its access to quality data. With its financial resources, Meta and Zuckerberg aim to make a significant impact in the AI talent market.
“There are very few individuals worldwide who can conduct large-scale AI training efficiently,” stated Vahan Petrosyan, co-founder of SuperAnnotate, an AI data platform. For this reason, he suggested that higher compensation packages may be justified for companies like Meta.
However, not everyone is eager to accept Zuckerberg’s offers. Meta’s attempts to lure Koray Kavukcuoglu, a leading AI researcher from Google, and Noam Brown, a prominent researcher at OpenAI, were unsuccessful, according to a source familiar with the attempts.
In contrast, some of Meta’s competitors seem to be introducing new incentives to retain their AI researchers. Google appointed Kavukcuoglu as its chief AI architect, a new senior vice president position reporting directly to CEO Sundar Pichai, according to an internal memo obtained by Bloomberg News. Kavukcuoglu will maintain his role as lead of the generative AI unit and chief technology officer of Google DeepMind, as mentioned by Pichai in the memo that was previously reported by Semafor.
“Koray will help to accelerate how we integrate our world-leading models into our products, aiming for better integration, faster iteration, and greater efficiency,” Pichai stated.
Google and OpenAI did not respond to requests for comments.
