As AI continues to accelerate at a breakneck pace, it’s becoming increasingly clear which startups are capturing the industry’s attention—and which ones Zuckerberg is eyeing for acquisition. Recently, sources reveal that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been actively exploring deals with several high-profile AI companies, including Ilya Sutskever’s Safe Superintelligence (SSI), ex-OpenAI CTO Mira Murati’s Thinking Machines Lab, and Google rival Perplexity. While these negotiations haven’t yet led to formal offers—mainly due to disagreements over pricing and strategic direction—they highlight Zuckerberg’s aggressive push to revitalize Meta’s AI ambitions.
Details are emerging about the powerhouse team Zuckerberg is assembling to lead this charge. SSI co-founder and CEO Daniel Gross, along with former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman, are set to co-lead Meta’s new AI assistant initiative. Both will report directly to Alexandr Wang, the former Scale CEO whom Zuckerberg recently paid over $14 billion to recruit rapidly. Wang wrapped up his tenure at Scale last week and was at Meta’s offices early this week, meeting with top executives and recruiting talent for the ambitious AI team. Industry insiders suggest we could see this team unveiled as soon as next week.
Meanwhile, some of the brightest minds in AI are choosing to stay independent or raise new funding rather than join Meta. Sutskever, a leading figure in AI research and co-founder of OpenAI, recently secured billions of dollars for SSI, with major investors including Meta and Google. Murati also raised billions recently, though neither is close to launching a product. Similarly, Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity, is in the process of raising around $500 million. All involved parties declined to comment or didn’t respond in time.
This intense talent scramble underscores the fierce competition among tech giants for top AI talent. Industry insiders aren’t surprised by Zuckerberg’s willingness to make nine- or even ten-figure offers to secure the best minds. Some senior AI researchers at OpenAI are already earning compensation in that range, thanks to the company’s skyrocketing valuation.
Notably, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman seems somewhat rattled by Zuckerberg’s aggressive hiring spree. His recent public statements claiming that “none of our best people” are leaving for Meta appear aimed at projecting strength. However, some interpret his comments as a subtle attempt to deflect concerns. Altman’s remark that Meta’s high upfront investments for talent might harm company culture raises eyebrows, especially considering OpenAI’s $6.5 billion acquisition of Jony Ive’s hardware team—an indication that big spending on top talent is already a reality in the industry.
On the product front, Meta is making strides with its AR glasses lineup. During a recent Zoom call, Meta’s VP of wearables, Alex Himel, discussed the company’s latest efforts with Oakley and their new AI-powered glasses. Dubbed “AI glasses,” this category emphasizes AI functionality tailored specifically for glasses rather than traditional smart glasses. Himel explained that their focus is on use cases like audio for calls and media, as well as capturing photos and videos—features that currently dominate user engagement.
Meta believes that glasses are the perfect form factor for AI, given their constant wearability and ability to see and hear what users do. Their goal isn’t necessarily to replace existing features but to enhance them—making AI an increasingly central part of the user experience. They’re working with Apple’s latest hardware updates and integrating new APIs to improve media transfer and processing, aiming for seamless, on-device AI capabilities.
When asked about the market potential, Himel emphasized that the Oakley glasses are designed for a broad audience, including outdoor enthusiasts and athletes, thanks to their collaboration with EssilorLuxottica. The company’s previous Ray-Ban Meta glasses have already proven popular, and the new HSTN model is positioned as a performance-oriented upgrade.
Meta isn’t the only company pushing into XR and AR. Google recently announced new partnerships and hardware prototypes, sparking industry excitement. While Google’s demos at I/O showcased promising features, they haven’t yet launched a product, making Meta’s rapid progress even more noteworthy. Himel praised Google’s efforts, acknowledging the traction Meta has gained and noting that competition is healthy for the industry.
Meta’s Orion AR glasses project is also progressing rapidly. The company has hit significant milestones for its next-generation version, which will feature advanced input methods like eye tracking and neural interfaces. Himel shared an exciting anecdote about using Orion during March Madness, describing virtual screens above spectators’ heads—an immersive experience that showcases the potential of AR.
Meanwhile, in the broader tech landscape, regulatory and geopolitical issues continue to unfold. President Trump extended enforcement deadlines for laws targeting TikTok, effectively allowing the app to operate more freely in the US amidst ongoing legal battles. This move highlights the complex interplay between policy and industry, especially as TikTok’s parent companies navigate the US regulatory environment.
On the corporate front, Amazon is embracing AI to cut costs and streamline operations. CEO Andy Jassy recently sent a memo emphasizing that around 30% of Amazon’s code is now written by AI, with plans to automate more functions like sales and customer service. This shift signals a broader trend of AI-driven efficiency sweeping through major tech giants.
Stay tuned for more updates as the AI landscape continues to evolve rapidly. The competition for top talent, innovative product launches, and strategic collaborations are shaping the future of technology—and Meta is clearly determined to lead the charge.
