Meta Appoints Former OpenAI Researcher as Chief Scientist for Superintelligence AI Group

What's Happening?

Meta has appointed Shengjia Zhao, a former OpenAI researcher, as the chief scientist for its superintelligence AI group. Zhao, known for his work on OpenAI's ChatGPT, will report to Alexandr Wang, Meta's Chief AI Officer. This move is part of Meta's strategy to enhance its AI capabilities and compete with rivals. Zhao's appointment follows Meta's significant investment in AI infrastructure and talent acquisition, including a $14 billion investment in Scale AI. The company plans to develop foundation models and invest heavily in AI compute infrastructure.

Why It's Important?

Zhao's appointment underscores the competitive nature of the AI industry, where top talent is highly sought after. Meta's aggressive recruitment and investment strategies highlight the importance of AI in shaping future technologies and business models. The focus on superintelligence and large language models positions Meta to potentially lead in AI advancements. However, the ethical implications of such recruitment tactics and the concentration of AI talent and resources raise concerns about the industry's direction and impact on innovation.