Meta’s Attempt to Acquire Safe Superintelligence Signals Its AI Ambitions
Meta is aggressively doubling down on its artificial intelligence strategy, and recent moves prove just how serious Mark Zuckerberg is about leading in the AI arms race. After a failed attempt to acquire Safe Superintelligence, the $32 billion AI startup co-founded by former OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, Meta is now pivoting toward hiring key talent instead. Reports indicate that Meta is actively courting Daniel Gross, the CEO and co-founder of Safe Superintelligence. This calculated pivot shows that when Meta can’t buy a company outright, it’s willing to invest in the minds behind it. The focus keyword, safe superintelligence, appears at the core of Meta’s strategy as the company aims to outpace competitors like Google DeepMind, OpenAI, and Anthropic in foundational AI research.
Safe Superintelligence CEO Becomes Meta’s Top Hiring Target
Although Ilya Sutskever reportedly declined Meta’s acquisition offer, Daniel Gross may soon play a major role in shaping Meta’s future AI lab. Gross, a former AI lead at Apple and co-founder of search engine Cue, is widely respected for his expertise in building safe and scalable AI models. Meta’s interest in Gross doesn’t just stop at a leadership role — the company is reportedly considering investing in Gross and Nat Friedman’s venture fund, NFDG. This fund backs some of the most prominent AI startups, including Perplexity AI and Character.AI, which align with Meta’s broader AI and metaverse ambitions. By bringing Gross and potentially Friedman into its AI team, Meta could benefit not only from their research experience but also from their close ties to next-generation AI startups.
Meta's AI Hiring Spree: From Alexandr Wang to Gross and Friedman
Meta’s hiring spree isn’t limited to Safe Superintelligence leadership. Earlier this month, the company announced that Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang and multiple key executives from the data-labeling company would be joining Meta. These high-profile hires hint at a massive internal push toward AI infrastructure, particularly in areas like data processing, model training, and alignment. It’s clear that Meta is strategically assembling an all-star AI team to compete at the highest levels. The company’s long-term vision seems to involve not just building safe superintelligence systems but also integrating them into its social media platforms, wearables, and metaverse experiences. Gross and Friedman’s history of AI investments could also open doors for future acquisitions or strategic partnerships in the AI space.
Why Safe Superintelligence Talent Matters to Meta’s Long-Term Vision
By targeting the leadership behind Safe Superintelligence, Meta is sending a strong signal: talent and ideas matter just as much as full ownership. As governments and experts raise concerns about unchecked AI growth, Meta wants to align itself with researchers focused on safe, controllable systems. Bringing on leaders like Daniel Gross helps establish Meta’s credibility in building responsible AI—a priority under new global regulatory pressures. The company’s evolving hiring strategy emphasizes quality over quantity, choosing individuals with not only technical experience but also reputational influence in AI ethics and governance. Meta’s ability to attract figures like Gross could give it the upper hand in developing technologies that are not just powerful but trusted.
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