Meta Platforms has agreed to take a 49% stake in synthetic intelligence startup Scale AI for $14.8 billion, The Info reported on Tuesday, citing two folks accustomed to the matter.
Based in 2016, Scale AI supplies huge quantities of labeled knowledge or curated coaching knowledge, which is essential for creating subtle instruments equivalent to OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
The deal, which has not been finalized but, seems to be useful for Scale AI’s buyers, together with Accel, Index Ventures, Founders Fund and Greenoaks Capital, in addition to its present and former staff, the report mentioned.
Meta, Scale AI and the startup’s buyers didn’t instantly reply to Reuters’ requests for remark.
As a part of the deal, Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang will take a high place inside Meta, main a brand new “superintelligence” lab, in response to the report.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been actively recruiting high AI researchers to spice up the corporate’s AI efforts, the report mentioned.
The corporate is combating the notion that it might have fallen behind within the AI race after its preliminary set of Llama 4 giant language fashions launched in April fell in need of efficiency expectations.
Meta delayed the discharge of its flagship “Behemoth” AI mannequin attributable to issues about its capabilities, the Wall Road Journal reported final month.
The corporate can be dealing with antitrust issues associated to its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.
In accordance with The Info report, the construction for the potential cope with Scale AI might be designed to keep away from extra regulatory scrutiny.
Scale AI was valued at $13.8 billion in a funding spherical final spring.
It generated about $870 million in income in 2024 and expects greater than $2 billion this yr, the report mentioned.
The corporate counts AI corporations OpenAI and Cohere in addition to tech giants Microsoft, Meta and Cisco Programs amongst its clients, in response to its web site.
