Mark Zuckerberg and His Ambitious Quest to Develop Superintelligence: Ushering a New Era in Artificial Intelligence
Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of the tech giant Meta, has been actively working over the past months to assemble a so-called "dream team" in the field of artificial intelligence, aiming to create a groundbreaking technological breakthrough — superintelligence. This effort became even more prominent in June 2024 when information emerged about the launch of a dedicated division called Superintelligence Labs, marking the first step in the company's broader strategy to dominate the AI landscape. Zuckerberg personally engaged in the selection of candidates, communicating directly with them and even inviting them for visits, signaling his intense interest and high ambitions for this new domain. The main recruitment strategy involved not only generous remuneration — offering up to one million dollars per month — but also acquiring startups from these experts for hundreds of millions of dollars, providing them with opportunities for rapid career advancement. The newly formed division, established swiftly, is tasked with advancing existing Meta projects and working on technology capable of creating "superintelligence" — systems that can outperform or at least match human intelligence in various tasks. This move is part of a strategic response to the escalating global competition in AI, which by 2025 was falling behind major rivals who had already made significant progress. Notably, Meta faced setbacks with flagship models like Behemoth, which was canceled and postponed, and others from the Llama series, which did not meet expectations, thereby reducing its competitive edge in the global market. Zuckerberg is convinced that the development of superintelligence is the key to restoring leadership and transforming many aspects of human life. Internal sources report that Meta plans to allocate up to $72 billion towards this research. In public statements, Zuckerberg expressed confidence that superintelligence would usher in a new era for humanity, dedicating his efforts entirely to this vision. However, not all experts agree, citing numerous ethical and technical challenges associated with creating superintelligence. Overall, the fierce race in AI development, driven by Zuckerberg's initiatives, reflects a new phase of technological revolution that could significantly influence the future trajectory of humankind, raising critical questions about the limits of what is possible and the potential risks involved.