Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ: META) has announced a significant $14.8 billion investment to acquire a 49% stake in Scale AI, a key player in data-labeling services essential for AI model training. This move marks a strategic pivot for Meta, as it seeks to strengthen its position in the competitive AI landscape. Scale AI's CEO, Alexandr Wang, will join Meta to lead a new 'superintelligence' lab, collaborating with a 50-person research team under Mark Zuckerberg's direction. This development follows challenges with Meta's Llama 4 performance and delays in its 'Behemoth' AI model, highlighting the company's commitment to advancing its AI technologies.
The deal is under scrutiny by U.S. antitrust authorities, including the FTC and DOJ, due to concerns over minority investments under Clayton Act provisions. This scrutiny reflects ongoing regulatory challenges Meta faces, reminiscent of past issues with acquisitions like Instagram and WhatsApp. However, the potential for Scale AI to double its revenue to over $2 billion by 2025 may help justify the investment to stakeholders.
As of June 11, 2025, Meta's stock (NASDAQ: META) experienced a slight decline, trading at $700.45, down $1.95 (–0.28%) for the day. The stock's intraday trading ranged between $697.72 and $708.54, with a trading volume of approximately 4.8 million shares. This investment in Scale AI represents Meta's boldest strategic move in AI to date, signaling its intent to remain at the forefront of technological innovation despite regulatory and market challenges.
