Meta Restructures AI Group to Accelerate Superintelligence Goals

Meta Platforms has restructured its newly formed AI group into four separate teams, aiming to enhance its pursuit of AI-based personal superintelligence. According to a report by Bloomberg, this move reflects the company’s strategy to capitalize on recent talent acquisitions from competing firms.

In an internal memo, Alexandr Wang, the chief AI officer at Meta, outlined the changes, stating that the newly established Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL) will now consist of four distinct areas: research, product development, infrastructure, and overall strategy. Wang emphasized the importance of organization, noting, “Superintelligence is coming, and in order to take it seriously, we need to organize around the key areas that will be critical to reach it.”

Wang, who formerly served as the CEO of Scale AI, joined Meta following the company’s significant investment of $14.3 billion in June 2023. This latest restructuring marks the fourth revision of Meta’s AI strategy within just six months, as the company seeks to bolster its AI capabilities to compete with major players like Microsoft, Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google.

As part of this restructuring, the previous configuration of the AI division, which included three teams—Fundamental AI Research (FAIR), the AI products group, and the AI foundations team—has been dissolved. Robert Fergus will continue to lead the FAIR team after his return to Meta in May 2023. The AGI foundations group, however, is being disbanded as part of this realignment.

Despite the significant changes, Bloomberg reported that there were no layoffs associated with the reorganization on August 19, 2023. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been actively involved in this transformation, personally recruiting around 50 engineers from rival companies to strengthen Meta’s efforts in the artificial general intelligence (AGI) sector.

The restructuring reflects a broader trend in the technology sector, where companies are racing to develop advanced AI systems that could redefine user interaction with technology. As Meta aims to establish itself as a leader in this field, the formation of the MSL team highlights its commitment to innovation and competitive edge.

This strategic overhaul positions Meta to leverage its resources and talent effectively, ensuring the company remains at the forefront of AI development in the coming years.