Meta’s Highest-Paid AI Executive Flags 'Suffocating' Work Culture Under Mark Zuckerberg: All You Need To Know

Meta’s massive bet on artificial intelligence may not be going as smoothly as planned. The company reportedly spent around $14 billion to bring Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang on board to lead its AI ambitions

but a new report suggests internal tensions are already surfacing. According to a Financial Times report, Wang has privately complained that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s micromanagement of AI projects feels 'suffocating'.Wang, who now heads Meta’s newly created Superintelligence Labs, is said to have shared his frustration with colleagues, claiming that excessive control from the top is slowing down decision-making and hurting innovation. The report points out that this discomfort is emerging at a time when Meta is already dealing with layoffs, senior-level exits and rushed AI product launches, all of which have impacted employee morale.Meta officially announced Wang’s appointment in June 2025, positioning him as the key figure to drive the company’s long-term AI strategy. Superintelligence Labs was set up to bring Meta’s scattered AI efforts under one roof, covering research, infrastructure and product development. Soon after taking charge, Wang restructured the company’s AI teams to sharpen focus and execution.In an internal memo, Wang reportedly told employees that superintelligent AI systems are no longer a distant idea. He said Meta must reorganise around three critical pillars -- research, product and infrastructure -- if it wants to take this challenge seriously. Under his plan, Meta’s AI work has been split into four core areas, all aimed at speeding up progress toward advanced, general-purpose AI systems.This push is crucial for Meta as it tries to catch up with rivals like OpenAI, Google DeepMind and Anthropic, which are moving fast in the AI race. Meta’s heavy investment in Scale AI is also part of this strategy. Scale AI specialises in data annotation and training support, which are key to building powerful AI models. By backing Scale AI and bringing Wang in-house, Meta hopes to gain an edge in the race towards artificial general intelligence.However, the report suggests that Zuckerberg’s hands-on leadership style may be creating friction. While Zuckerberg is deeply involved in Meta’s AI direction, Wang reportedly feels that too much oversight is limiting flexibility and slowing execution. This raises questions about whether Meta can truly empower its AI leaders to move fast in a highly competitive space. How Meta handles this internal tension could decide whether its AI ambitions succeed or stumble.