Meta Platforms just launched a big new move in the artificial intelligence battle. They purchased a controlling 49% interest in Scale AI for a whopping $14.8 billion! This transaction gives Scale AI a valuation of $30 billion. Perhaps most interestingly, it foregrounds Mark Zuckerberg’s ambition to position Meta as the leader in the race to achieve artificial general intelligence (AGI).

Founded in 2016 by Alexandr Wang, Scale AI has rapidly grown into a data-labeling powerhouse, specializing in curating high-quality training data crucial for AI model development. Last year, the company made $870 million in revenue, and it has already forecast more than $2 billion in revenue for 2025.

Meta's strategic investment in Scale AI is one of its boldest moves yet, signaling Zuckerberg's determination to secure dominance in the AI landscape. By purchasing a majority stake, Meta gains priority access to Scale AI’s data-labeling services. These services are vital to the development of the cutting edge AI models.

Beyond the significant merits of the acquisition, this purchase would enable Meta to skirt many regulatory challenges. By securing a 49% stake rather than a full acquisition, Meta sidesteps some antitrust concerns, particularly those involving the Federal Trade Commission. This strategy allows Meta to focus its resources on areas where it can genuinely differentiate itself in AI while avoiding prying regulatory eyes.

The tech world has been aflutter with the implications of this deal. According to many experts, Meta’s massive investment will help bring AGI into the world much faster, fundamentally changing every industry in the process. Others, including SingularityNET’s Ben Goertzel, argue that decentralization should be a pillar of protecting AGI’s future.