Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms, is reportedly assembling a new team of top experts with the ambitious goal of developing artificial general intelligence (AGI)—an advanced form of AI that could match or even exceed human intellect. According to Bloomberg News, this move represents one of Meta’s boldest steps yet in the race to dominate next-generation artificial intelligence.
Zuckerberg’s AGI initiative aligns with a massive investment—reportedly over $10 billion—into Scale AI, a leading data infrastructure company for AI. The deal, which is still being finalized, is expected to bring Scale AI’s founder, Alexandr Wang, into Meta’s AGI team once it’s completed.
Major Strategic Shift at Meta
The formation of the AGI group signals a strategic shift for Meta, which has historically focused on building large-scale models and AI tools for content moderation, digital advertising, and metaverse experiences. The AGI project will reportedly stand apart, aiming to create more powerful, general-purpose AI systems capable of reasoning, planning, and adapting across tasks—the kind of intelligence that closely mirrors human cognition.
Meta is positioning itself more aggressively in a highly competitive landscape, where tech giants like OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic are also pouring billions into AGI development.
Delayed Rollout of “Behemoth” AI Model
While Zuckerberg sets the stage for Meta’s AGI aspirations, the company recently faced a setback with its AI roadmap. In May, Meta postponed the release of its highly anticipated “Behemoth” model, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. Sources cited internal concerns about the model’s capabilities and potential risks, which prompted the delay. The pause highlights the growing caution among leading AI developers regarding the power—and potential consequences—of advanced AI systems.
Competition Heats Up in AGI Space
Meta is not alone in its AGI ambitions. Competitors like OpenAI, which developed ChatGPT, are also revising their strategies to attract fresh investment and accelerate progress toward AGI. OpenAI recently underwent internal leadership shifts and has partnered more closely with investors like Microsoft to push forward its AGI agenda.
The race to achieve AGI is not only about building smarter machines—it’s about controlling the future of technology. Whoever achieves AGI first may set the standards, frameworks, and ethical boundaries for the AI era to come.
As Meta deepens its investment and builds a dedicated AGI team, the global AI arms race is clearly entering a more intense, high-stakes phase.
