Alexandr Wang has emerged as a prominent leader in the artificial intelligence world.

His role is gaining attention not only because of his entrepreneurial success but also due to his growing influence in shaping AI’s future.

Recently, Wang’s connection with Meta has made headlines, signaling important developments in the AI industry.

From MIT Dropout to Silicon Valley Power Player

At 28 years old, Alexandr Wang is taking on a pivotal new role at Meta.

He dropped out of MIT after his freshman year to cofound Scale AI with Lucy Guo in 2016, during a summer session at the startup incubator Y Combinator. That same cohort included startups like The Athletic and Burrow.

“The great thing about Scale is that it is taking advantage of an opportunity that is hiding in plain sight,” said Y Combinator partner Jared Friedman.

Wang expressed early ambitions: “Long-term, we want to power any human-powered process for any company.”

The Rise of Scale AI and Its $29 Billion Valuation

Meta has confirmed a $15 billion investment in Scale AI, acquiring a 49% stake and valuing the company at more than $29 billion.

As part of the agreement, Wang will join Meta while remaining on Scale’s board of directors.

Wang became the world’s youngest self-made billionaire in 2021 at age 24. Though he briefly dropped off the billionaire list, Forbes now estimates his net worth at $3.6 billion.

“Focus on building the business and then the rest will kind of take care of itself,” Wang told Business Insider in 2020.

Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund invested $100 million in Scale in 2019, helping the company reach unicorn status.

Scale now serves clients such as Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Meta, and expects revenue to more than double to $2 billion in 2025, up from $870 million in 2024.

Washington's Go-To Voice on AI Policy and National Security

Wang has become a consistent presence in Washington, D.C., joining closed-door discussions led by then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and providing public testimony before a House subcommittee on military applications of AI.

In his testimony, Wang said a 2018 trip to China underscored the stakes of AI competition, “The race for AI global leadership is well underway, and our nation's ability to efficiently adopt and implement AI will define the future of warfare”.

Scale AI has also signed contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense to support operational decision-making using AI and is working with governments in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

In February, Scale signed a deal with Qatar to help develop AI-driven voice, chat, and email agents for contact centers.

A Letter to Trump and a Seat at Meta’s AI Table

Wang attended Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration in January 2025 and shared his optimism on social media: “Honored to be invited to attend the Inaugural at the Capitol! Optimism about AI and tech is palpable in DC this week”.

On January 21, Scale published a full-page open letter to Trump in The Washington Post.

Wang laid out five proposals to advance AI within the first 100 days of Trump’s second term, calling for increased federal spending on data and compute, and the formation of a regulatory task force to support AI job growth.

“If the United States remains on our current trajectory, we risk falling and staying behind,” Wang wrote.

What’s Next for Meta’s Superintelligence Ambitions

Scale confirmed that Wang will work on Meta’s AI strategy, specifically within its new superintelligence division.

The company stated it will release more details soon. Wang wrote to Scale employees, reflecting on his departure: “The idea of not being a Scalien was, frankly, unimaginable. But as I spent time truly considering it, I realized this was a deeply unique moment, not just for me, but for Scale as well”.

He also announced that the financial proceeds from Meta’s investment will be shared with shareholders and vested equity holders.

PHOTO: SCALE AI

This article was created with AI assistance.