The tech industry is entering a new pivotal chapter in the global race to lead artificial intelligence. Meta Platforms, Inc. (the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) has announced a strategic investment in Scale AI, a leading American company in AI data solutions, valuing Scale at over $29 billion. Furthermore, Alexandr Wang, the founder and CEO of Scale, will join Meta’s AI team while remaining connected to his company as a board member.
A Strategic Investment That Sets a Trend
The agreement, officially announced on June 12, 2025, not only marks Meta’s entry into Scale’s capital (albeit as a minority participant) but also extends and deepens the commercial agreement between the two companies to accelerate the deployment of advanced data solutions. This move comes in a context of intense global competition, with players like OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, and Anthropic leading innovation in foundational models, generative AI, and data platforms for businesses and governments.
Meta, which has already strongly invested in open AI models like Llama, seeks to enhance its ability to manage and process large-scale data ethically and securely, a central element in training next-generation models. Scale AI’s expertise—a firm that has collaborated with Fortune 500 companies, cutting-edge AI labs, and U.S. public agencies, including Defense—is seen by experts as a strategic asset for Meta.
Alexandr Wang: From "Child Prodigy" of AI to a New Reference in Silicon Valley
At just 27 years old, Alexandr Wang is one of the most recognized entrepreneurs in the global landscape of artificial intelligence. He founded Scale AI in 2016 at the age of 19 after a brief stint at MIT and the startup Quora. In less than a decade, he has transformed his company into a reference for processing and annotating massive datasets—essential for AI training—serving clients like Toyota, Microsoft, OpenAI, General Motors, the Pentagon, and NASA. In 2022, Forbes named him the youngest self-made billionaire, and today, he is one of the most influential leaders in the “new economy” of AI.
Wang joins Meta with the aim of driving the development of new foundational models and data strategies, particularly in areas such as natural language processing, generative AI, and computer vision. According to sources close to the operation, his arrival reinforces Meta’s commitment to building a more open, efficient, and secure AI in a context where privacy and transparency are increasingly demanding regulatory and market requirements.
Changes in Scale’s Leadership: Droege, a Veteran of Digital Platforms
With Wang’s departure from Scale’s day-to-day operations, the executive leadership now rests with Jason Droege, who assumes the role of interim CEO. Droege has solid experience in digital business transformation: he was the founder and global VP of Uber Eats, leading the food delivery service to generate over $19 billion in annual revenue, and played a key role in Axon’s cloud strategy (Taser), in addition to serving as a Venture Partner at Benchmark, one of Silicon Valley’s leading venture capital firms.
Droege inherits a rapidly expanding company, facing the challenge of maintaining Scale’s independence—a point emphasized in the agreement with Meta—and enhancing its global presence, especially in sectors such as automotive, defense, robotics, health, and retail, where data quality is crucial for AI.
Implications for the Industry and the Market
Meta and Scale AI will continue collaborating on data solutions, but the company founded by Wang will maintain its operational independence and commitment to client privacy and security. Following the investment, part of the funds will be distributed among shareholders and employees, ensuring liquidity and the ability to continue participating in Scale’s future. This operation reinforces the trend of large tech companies in Silicon Valley integrating talent and capabilities from specialized firms to accelerate their AI agendas.
This move also occurs against a backdrop of increasing regulatory and competitive pressure, with the European Union and United States establishing new legal and ethical frameworks for the development and use of AI. Meta, already competing with OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, positions itself as a key player for the future of the sector, investing in strategic cooperation with independent leaders and in the responsible development of artificial intelligence.
A Shared Vision: AI with Human Values
In official statements, both Alexandr Wang and Jason Droege underscore Scale and Meta’s commitment to ethical, secure artificial intelligence that serves people. “AI is one of the most revolutionary technologies of our time, with unlimited potential to transform how we live and work,” Wang asserts. Meanwhile, Droege emphasizes Scale’s role as a premier partner for businesses and governments, and the ambition to continue leading the development of AI applications and models that meet the challenges of the new digital era.
In conclusion, this operation marks a new milestone in the recent history of AI, where access to quality data, entrepreneurial talent, and cooperation among major tech companies will be key factors in defining the future of global innovation.
Source: Noticias inteligencia artificial