In a prelude to Meta’s earnings conference, CEO Mark Zuckerberg articulated an ambitious vision for the future of artificial intelligence, centered around the concept of personalized AI that would particularly manifest through advanced wearable glasses.
Zuckerberg emphasized his aim for individuals to possess AI solutions that support personal aspirations, foster creativity, enhance relationships, and facilitate growth as individuals. He stated that this technology could enable users to “experience any adventure, be a better friend to those you care about, and grow to become the person you aspire to be.”
This disclosure emerged through a publicly accessible letter detailing the significance of making “personal superintelligence” available widely, even if the journey takes considerable time. Zuckerberg termed superintelligence as synonymous with artificial general intelligence (AGI), which denotes AI systems capable of performing tasks at or beyond human abilities—a pursuit that major players such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google are currently engaged in.
“The progress might appear slow at this stage, but it is unmistakable,” Zuckerberg noted regarding advancements in AI. “Developing superintelligence is now within reach.”
The announcement comes on the heels of Zuckerberg’s significant investment in AI talent, which included a historic acquisition of a 49 percent stake in Scale AI for $14.3 billion, focusing on AI training data. To lead the newly established lab on superintelligence, Zuckerberg appointed Alexandr Wang, CEO of Scale AI, and Meta’s recruitment has included high-profile talent from competitors such as OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Anthropic, and Apple. Some recruitment packages have been reported at around $100 million, while others range between $1 million and $1.4 million, according to previous reports by Technology News.
However, not all prominent AI researchers are swayed by financial offerings. Many have declined Meta’s job proposals, as their existing salaries already provide the means for early retirement. Attracting or retaining such talent may hinge on a shared vision or ethical alignment with their personal goals for AI advancement. Zuckerberg’s recent manifesto may seek to resonate with this demographic.
Moreover, Zuckerberg subtly critiqued competitors’ objectives, asserting that Meta’s mission diverges from those in the AI space who envision a centralized approach to superintelligence aimed at maximizing automation and “dole out” benefits to humanity. This stands in contrast to the views of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who has suggested that AI’s progress could lead to widespread job displacement and possibly establish a universal basic income.
Zuckerberg reaffirmed his confidence in smart glasses, envisioning them as the next generation of essential personal devices for computing.
He also cautioned against the indiscriminate open-sourcing of technology, arguing that such practices could compromise built-in safety measures, leading to hazardous manipulation on a significant scale. This concern remains pressing due to its inclusion in recent discussions regarding the open-source element of President Trump’s AI Action Plan.
Zuckerberg concluded by predicting that the coming years would be crucial in shaping the trajectory of this technology, influencing whether superintelligence becomes a tool for personal empowerment or instead acts as a disruptive force that could replace large segments of society.
