Meta is assembling a new elite artificial intelligence unit focused on building "superintelligence," with CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally leading the recruitment effort. According to multiple reports, the tech giant is courting top AI researchers with compensation packages that could reach nine figures, underscoring the escalating competition among Big Tech firms to lead the next phase of AI development.
The move comes as Meta aims to compete more aggressively with rivals like OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic. While Meta has already invested heavily in generative AI through its Llama large language models and related infrastructure, this new initiative signals a shift toward long-term, frontier-level research.
Zuckerberg’s Direct Involvement
Sources familiar with the matter say Zuckerberg is playing an unusually hands-on role in recruiting talent for the team, personally reaching out to high-profile researchers in the AI field. The new group will reportedly operate independently from Meta’s existing AI teams, including FAIR (Facebook AI Research), and will focus on advancing the company’s vision of artificial general intelligence (AGI).
Although Meta has not publicly disclosed the team’s official mandate, internal messaging reportedly refers to it as a "superintelligence" group—language that aligns with efforts to develop AI systems capable of reasoning, planning, and adapting at or beyond human levels.
Big Tech’s AI Talent Arms Race
Meta’s recruitment push reflects a broader trend in the tech industry, where competition for elite AI talent has intensified dramatically. As foundational models become central to business strategy, companies are offering unprecedented salaries, resources, and autonomy to lure researchers capable of building the next generation of AI systems.
Just last year, OpenAI reportedly paid key contributors multi-million-dollar packages to retain staff, while Google’s DeepMind and startups like xAI have similarly ramped up incentives.
In Meta’s case, the nine-figure offers appear aimed at both attracting new experts and preventing brain drain, especially as high-profile departures in the AI research community have become more frequent.
Strategic Implications
By launching a team dedicated to superintelligence, Meta is signaling that it wants to be seen as a serious contender in long-term AI development—not just in consumer applications like chatbots or image generation.
The new initiative could help Meta move closer to its goal of creating a foundational AI model that integrates across its platforms, from Instagram and WhatsApp to its metaverse ambitions. The company has already released open-source models like Llama 3 and recently shared plans to make further iterations publicly available.
Industry analysts note that building a team focused specifically on superintelligence could help Meta push boundaries beyond current generative AI benchmarks, possibly exploring advanced reasoning, tool use, and multi-agent collaboration.
A Calculated Bet on the Future
Zuckerberg’s latest move may carry risk, but it’s also a clear indication of where the company is placing its long-term bets. With the AI race accelerating, companies that can attract and retain top researchers will likely define the trajectory of the next technological era.
Meta’s new superintelligence team may still be in its early days, but its formation adds another bold chapter to the unfolding story of AI leadership in Silicon Valley.