Alexandr Wang, an MIT dropout turned AI prodigy, has been appointed to lead Meta’s ambitious new superintelligence division. The move follows Meta’s acquisition of a 49% stake in Wang’s company, Scale AI, in a deal valued at approximately ₹2.47 lakh crore (around $29 billion).
At just 28, Wang has amassed a personal net worth exceeding ₹30,000 crore (~$3.6 billion), making him the youngest self-made tech billionaire globally. His startup, Scale AI, is already a core player in powering machine learning systems for major U.S. defense and tech agencies.
From Student to Strategist
Wang launched Scale AI in 2016 at age 19 after dropping out of MIT. The startup focused on providing labeled data to train AI systems and quickly secured contracts with both Silicon Valley giants and the U.S. Department of Defense. His meteoric rise caught the attention of not just the tech world, but also policy circles in Washington.
Over the years, Wang has become a vocal advocate for American leadership in AI, authoring memos and testifying before Congress on AI’s national security implications. In 2023, he was reportedly advising former U.S. President Donald Trump on AI competitiveness and tech sovereignty.
Meta’s High-Stakes AI Reinvention
Meta’s massive ₹1.19 lakh crore investment is seen as a strategic turnaround after its earlier AI efforts with models like LLaMA 4 failed to capture market share from OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic. With Wang now inside the Meta ecosystem, the company hopes to reset its AI trajectory.
“Alexandr brings both technical genius and the policy credibility Meta needs to take the next leap,” said a senior Meta official familiar with the transition.
Under the agreement, Wang will join Meta full-time while retaining a board seat at Scale AI. Meta’s internal AI and computing teams will now align with Wang’s vision, focusing on high-performance AI architecture, model alignment, and defense-grade resilience.
Government Watchdogs on Alert
With such a large transaction and control over critical AI infrastructure, Meta’s investment is expected to undergo scrutiny by both U.S. and European regulators. Antitrust concerns and national security reviews are likely, especially considering the increasing global attention on AI monopolies and data control.
For Wang, however, the move represents more than just scale—it’s about shaping AI’s future.
“This isn’t just about building better tools,” a close aide to Wang said. “It’s about building AI responsibly, at scale, and on our terms.”
