Meta has embarked on an ambitious project to develop "superintelligence," a hypothetical AI system that surpasses human cognitive capabilities across all domains. To achieve this goal, the company has launched a secretive artificial intelligence research lab, which is being personally spearheaded by Mark Zuckerberg.
The lab is assembling a team of around 50 top AI researchers and engineers, and Meta is offering highly competitive compensation packages to attract talent from leading AI companies like OpenAI and Google. Reports suggest that the company is making seven- to nine-figure offers to lure experts to join the lab.
Meta is also in advanced talks to invest over $10 billion in Scale AI, a startup specializing in data labeling and model evaluation services. Scale AI founder Alexandr Wang is expected to join the new lab, which aims to develop superintelligence, representing the highest stage of AI development.
This initiative is driven by Zuckerberg's frustration with Meta's perceived shortcomings in AI progress and the company's desire to stay competitive in the tech industry. However, developing superintelligent systems that align with human values and ensuring their safety is a significant challenge. The potential impact of superintelligence on jobs and society also needs careful consideration.
As Meta pushes the boundaries of AI development, the tech industry will be watching closely to see how this initiative unfolds and what implications it may have for the future of AI and its applications.
