In a major AI talent coup, Meta Platforms has poached Daniel Gross, CEO and co-founder of Safe Superintelligence (SSI), marking a bold shift in its AI leadership. Gross will now lead Meta’s AI products division under its newly formed Superintelligence Labs, as Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg intensifies the company’s bid to catch up in artificial intelligence
⚙️ What’s the Scoop?
- Gross departed SSI on June 29 to join Meta, focusing on AI product development alongside industry luminaries like Alexandr Wang and Nat Friedman
- This follows Meta’s failed attempt to acquire SSI outright, which was valued at $32 billion before Gross’s departure
- With Gross’s move, SSI’s co-founder Ilya Sutskever (also ex-OpenAI) has assumed the role of CEO to keep the startup on track
🏢 Why This Is Big for Meta
- Rebuilding AI leadership: Meta has launched Superintelligence Labs, consolidating AI efforts under top executives like Wang, Friedman, and now Gross
- Heavy investment: Meta invested $14.3 billion in Scale AI and is aggressively hiring top-tier talent, including offering nine‑figure compensation packages to stand out in the AI arms race
- Poach strategy: Unable to acquire SSI, Meta pivoted to recruiting its top executives, highlighting a preferred “buy people, not companies” hiring tactic
🌍 Industry Impact & Reaction
- SSI stays independent: Sutskever reaffirmed SSI’s independence, stating Meta’s overtures were flattering but the startup is focused on its mission to build safe superintelligence theverge
- Rising talent wars: Competing giants like OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and others are also engaged in fierce hiring and strategic investments—you see bonuses of up to $100 million being offered
🔮 What’s Next?
- Gross’s new role: Leading the AI products division under Superintelligence Labs, shaping Meta’s AI offerings.
- Startup dynamics: SSI continues its mission under Sutskever’s leadership, focusing on safe AGI development.
- Market watch: Analysts will track Meta’s success in leveraging this talent to accelerate its AI roadmap, particularly with impending AGI goals.
✅ Final Takeaway
With Meta hire SSI CEO Daniel Gross, Meta ups the ante in the AI talent wars. Unable to acquire SSI, they opted to hire its top leadership—signaling a new, aggressive approach to building AI capacity and signaling that talent might be the number-one battleground in the push for superintelligence.
