AI Research

Meta’s Plan to Leap Ahead in the AI Race

Published

2 months ago

July 2, 2025

Jeff Brown

Why bother with artificial general intelligence (AGI)?

Why not just go straight to superintelligence (ASI)?

That’s precisely the message Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is sending with his latest organizational changes made in the last couple of days.

When most of us think of Meta, we think of it as a social media company. After all, Meta owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

But Meta is actually a tech-centric advertising company. It derives almost 99% of its revenues from selling advertising space on its application platforms.

This is what turned Meta into a $1.78 trillion company sitting on $70 billion in cash and generating tens of billions in free cash flow every year. This year, Meta will generate $34.2 billion in free cash flow, which is actually significantly lower than last year’s $52 billion.

And there’s one reason for that… Its ambitions are far greater than advertising.

Skipping Over AGI

Meta is spending at record levels on both data center infrastructure and software development for artificial intelligence.

That’s what has directly impacted its free cash flows. And despite spending more than $100 billion on developing AI, Meta has been significantly behind companies like Google, Anthropic, and xAI in the race to artificial general intelligence.

For one of the largest, cash-rich, and most powerful tech companies, this has been a sore point for Meta that left analysts wondering what Meta might do to catch up.

Now we know.

A couple of weeks ago, Meta absolutely aped into a deal, spending $14.3 billion to acquire only 49% of Scale AI – a high-growth AI service company that focuses on data annotation and AI training data for companies looking to build AI models.

It’s an incredible figure that implies a $28.6 billion valuation for Scale AI – a company that was worth just $1 billion back in 2019.

But it was the deal structure that was telling.

Meta knew it couldn’t get away with an outright acquisition of Scale AI. Scale AI was a neutral party and a critical service provider to the industry. An all-out acquisition would have almost certainly caused major antitrust issues. I doubt the deal would have gone through.

So Zuckerberg acquired 49% to avoid antitrust problems. But the key part of the deal was that Scale AI’s CEO Alexandr Wang will leave Scale AI and join Meta as its Chief AI Officer.

Then, just a couple days ago, we learned that Zuckerberg has established a new division of Meta now known as Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL) to be led by Wang.

The name says it all…

Meta knows it has fallen behind in the race to AGI. So it’s stepping up to put a team together to develop the next frontier AI model, something beyond AGI.

Meta is gearing up to build an artificial superintelligence.

But don’t take my word for it, here it is directly from Zuckerberg:

As the pace of AI progress accelerates, developing superintelligence is coming into sight. I believe this will be the beginning of a new era for humanity, and I am fully committed to doing what it takes for Meta to lead the way.

And he was clear about why he believes Meta can do it:

Meta is uniquely positioned to deliver superintelligence to the world. We have a strong business that supports building out significantly more compute than smaller labs. We have deeper experience building and growing products that reach billions of people.

And there is no question that Meta is pulling out all the stops and spending whatever it takes to put together a team that might be able to pull it off.

In addition to Zuckerberg’s “acquihire” of Alexandr Wang for $14.3 billion, he also pulled in Nat Friedman from Microsoft, who himself was “acquihired” by Microsoft for $7.5 billion in 2018 when Microsoft acquired GitHub.

Friedman will be helping to lead the new Meta Superintelligence Labs with Wang.

And that’s just two names. Here’s who else is joining Meta to hopefully achieve its ASI ambitions:

Seven key software engineers who have created various parts of OpenAI’s frontier models.
A key engineer at Anthropic.
Three key players from Google, two of whom come from Google’s DeepMind subsidiary.

And I’m sure there are far more in the works.

But what comes next might be hard to believe.

All in on ASI

For the very top talent, Meta is offering packages as high as $300 million over four years and more than $100 million in payouts in the first year. Other team members, like those I listed above, are rumored to be receiving packages around $10 million a year (base, bonus, and equity combined).

Never in my decades in high tech have I ever seen executive recruiting at this level.

Anyone who has actually built a frontier model, or any leading AI company, is invaluable in this environment. And these kinds of comp packages are only possible because a handful of companies out there have so much capital available to them that they can afford these astronomical packages.

But let’s not let these extraordinary compensation packages distract us from the far bigger story.

“Developing superintelligence is coming into sight.”

Many in the industry are starting to believe that artificial general intelligence is now becoming a near-term event. This is a prediction that I’ve made for quite some time. We’re already seeing sprouts of AGI.

Something very big is right around the corner, and I predict that xAI’s Grok 4 – which is expected to be released shortly after July 4 – is going to leap far ahead of the rest of the industry. Many will suggest that Grok 4 is an early version of AGI.

We’re so close…

Which is why Meta isn’t setting its target on such an imminent technology. It is assembling a team to build, and hopefully lead, what’s coming next…

… namely, artificial superintelligence.

Jeff

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AI Research

Commanders vs. Packers props, SportsLine Machine Learning Model AI picks: Jordan Love Over 223.5 passing yards

Published

34 minutes ago

September 11, 2025

Daniel Kohn

The NFL Week 2 schedule gets underway with a Thursday Night Football matchup between NFC playoff teams from a year ago. The Washington Commanders battle the Green Bay Packers beginning at 8:15 p.m. ET from Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels led the Commanders to a 21-6 opening-day win over the New York Giants, completing 19 of 30 passes for 233 yards and one touchdown. Jordan Love, meanwhile, helped propel the Packers to a dominating 27-13 win over the Detroit Lions in Week 1. He completed 16 of 22 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns.

NFL prop bettors will likely target the two young quarterbacks with NFL prop picks, in addition to proven playmakers like Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel and Josh Jacobs. Green Bay’s Jayden Reed has been dealing with a foot injury, but still managed to haul in a touchdown pass in the opener. The Packers enter as a 3.5-point favorite with Green Bay at -187 on the money line. The over/under is 48.5 points. Before betting any Commanders vs. Packers props for Thursday Night Football, you need to see the Commanders vs. Packers prop predictions powered by SportsLine’s Machine Learning Model AI.

Built using cutting-edge artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques by SportsLine’s Data Science team, AI Predictions and AI Ratings are generated for each player prop.

For Packers vs. Commanders NFL betting on Monday Night Football, the Machine Learning Model has evaluated the NFL player prop odds and provided Bears vs. Vikings prop picks. You can only see the Machine Learning Model player prop predictions for Washington vs. Green Bay here.

Top NFL player prop bets for Commanders vs. Packers

After analyzing the Commanders vs. Packers props and examining the dozens of NFL player prop markets, the SportsLine’s Machine Learning Model says Packers quarterback Love goes Over 223.5 passing yards (-112 at FanDuel). Love passed for 224 or more yards in eight games a year ago, despite an injury-filled season. In 15 regular-season games in 2024, he completed 63.1% of his passes for 3,389 yards and 25 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.

In a 30-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Dec. 15, he completed 20 of 27 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns. Love completed 21 of 28 passes for 274 yards and two scores in a 30-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Nov. 28. The model projects Love to pass for 259.5 yards, giving this prop bet a 4.5 rating out of 5. See more NFL props here, and new users can also target the FanDuel promo code, which offers new users $300 in bonus bets if their first $5 bet wins:

How to make NFL player prop bets for Washington vs. Green Bay

In addition, the SportsLine Machine Learning Model says another star sails past his total and has nine additional NFL props that are rated four stars or better. You need to see the Machine Learning Model analysis before making any Commanders vs. Packers prop bets for Thursday Night Football.

Which Commanders vs. Packers prop bets should you target for Thursday Night Football? Visit SportsLine now to see the top Commanders vs. Packers props, all from the SportsLine Machine Learning Model.

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AI Research

Oklahoma considers a pitch from a private company to monitor parolees with artificial intelligence

Published

40 minutes ago

September 11, 2025

The Editors

Oklahoma lawmakers are considering investing in a new platform that aids in parole and probation check-ins through monitoring with artificial intelligence and fingerprint and facial scans.

The state could be the first in the nation to use the Montana-based company Global Accountability’s technology for parole and probation monitoring, said CEO Jim Kinsey.

Global Accountability is also pitching its Absolute ID platform to states to prevent fraud with food stamp benefits and track case workers and caregivers in the foster care system.

A pilot program for 300 parolees and 25 to 40 officers would cost Oklahoma around $2 million for one year, though the exact amount would depend on the number of programs the state wants to use the platform for, Kinsey said.

The Oklahoma Department of Corrections already uses an offender monitoring platform with the capability for check-ins using facial recognition, a spokesperson for the agency said in an email. Supervising officers can allow certain low-level offenders with smartphones to check in monthly through a mobile app instead of an office visit.

The state agency is “always interested in having conversations with companies that might be able to provide services that can create efficiencies in our practices,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

States like Illinois, Virginia and Idaho have adopted similar technology, though Global Accountability executives say their platform is unique because of its combination of biometrics, location identification and a feature creating virtual boundaries that send an alert to an officer when crossed.

The Absolute ID platform has the capacity to collect a range of data, including location and movement, but states would be able to set rules on what data actually gets captured, Kinsey said.

During an interim study at the Oklahoma House of Representatives in August, company representatives said their technology could monitor people on parole and probation through smartphones and smartwatches. Users would have to scan their face or fingerprint to access the platform for scheduled check-ins. The company could implement workarounds for certain offenders who can’t have access to a smartphone.

There are 428 people across the state using ankle monitors, an Oklahoma Department of Corrections spokesperson said. The agency uses the monitors for aggravated drug traffickers, sex offenders and prisoners participating in a GPS-monitored reentry program.

“That is a working technology,” said David Crist, lead compliance officer for Global Accountability. “It’s great in that it does what it should do, but it’s not keeping up with the needs.”

The Absolute ID platform uses artificial intelligence to find patterns in data, like changes in the places a prisoner visits or how often they charge their device, Crist said. It can also flag individuals for review by an officer based on behaviors like missing check-ins, visiting unauthorized areas or allowing their device to die.

Agencies would create policies that determine potential consequences, which could involve a call or visit from an officer, Crist said. He also said no action would be taken without a final decision from a supervising officer.

“Ultimately, what we’re trying to do is reduce some of the workload of officers because they can’t be doing this 24/7,” Crist said. “But some of our automation can. And it’s not necessarily taking any action, but it is providing assistance.”

Parolees and probationers can also text message and call their supervising officers through the platform.

The state could provide smartphones or watches to people on parole or probation or require them to pay for the devices themselves, said Crist. He also said the state could make prisoners’ failure to carry their phone with them or pay their phone bill a violation of parole.

Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, who organized the study, said in an interview with the Frontier he first learned about Global Accountability several years ago and was impressed by their platform.

Ford said he doesn’t see the associated costs for parolees and probationers, like keeping up with phone bills, as a problem.

“I want to help them get back on their feet,” Ford said. “I want to do everything I can to make sure that they’re successful when they’re released from the penitentiary. But you have to also pay your debt to society too and part of that is paying fees.”

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Ford said he thinks using the platform to monitor parole, probation and food stamp benefits could help the state save money. He’s requested another interim study on using the company’s technology for food stamp benefits, but a date hasn’t been posted yet.

Other legislators are more skeptical of the platform. Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, said he thought the platform could be helpful, but he doesn’t see a benefit to Oklahoma being an early adopter. He said he’d like to let software companies work out some of the kinks first and then consider investing when the technology becomes less expensive.

Rep. David Hardin, R-Stilwell, said he remains unconvinced by Global Accountability’s presentation. He said the Department of Corrections would likely need to request a budget increase to fund the program, which would need legislative approval. Unless the company can alleviate some of his concerns, he said he doubts any related bill would pass the Public Safety committee that he chairs.

“You can tell me anything,” Hardin said. “I want to see what you’re doing. I want you to prove to me that it’s going to work before I start authorizing the sale of taxpayer money.”

AI Research

Research Solutions Launches AI Copyright Tool for Scientific Research

Published

55 minutes ago

September 11, 2025

Stock Titan

Solution Enables Corporate Researchers To Safely Use Generative AI Tools With Journal Articles Through Integrated Rights Management And Publisher Partnerships

HENDERSON, Nev., Sept. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Research Solutions (NASDAQ: RSSS), a leading provider of AI-powered scientific research tools, announces the commercial launch of its AI Rights add-on for Article Galaxy, enabling corporate researchers to compliantly use generative AI tools with scientific journal content at scale. The solution addresses a critical compliance gap affecting 76% of researchers who now use AI tools in their workflows but lack clear guidance on copyright permissions for scientific content analysis.

The AI Rights add-on transforms Research Solutions’ Article Galaxy platform into a comprehensive solution for AI rights verification and acquisition, providing instant clarity on usage permissions and seamless access to acquire necessary rights. With direct partnerships with major publishers, the solution enables researchers to confidently analyze scientific literature with enterprise AI platforms like Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, and Claude while maintaining full copyright compliance.

“Our customers have been clear: they need AI capabilities to accelerate their research, but they cannot risk non-compliance,” said Roy W. Olivier, CEO of Research Solutions. “This launch delivers on our commitment to eliminate friction in the research workflow while creating sustainable value for publishers. We’re solving a compliance problem while enabling a new era of AI-powered scientific research.”

Research teams confront several complex obstacles when attempting to integrate AI tools into their workflows. Most publishers explicitly prohibit the use of their content in AI applications, yet no streamlined mechanism exists for acquiring necessary permissions. Research Solutions’ AI Rights add-on solves this through several key innovations:

Comprehensive Rights Management: Users can manage all AI rights sources through a single interface—whether through open access licenses, Reproduction Rights Organization agreements (RROs), direct publisher relationships, or Article Galaxy marketplace acquisition
Instant Rights Verification: Users immediately see AI usage permissions for any article, removing guesswork and compliance uncertainty
One-Click Rights Acquisition: Missing permissions can be purchased directly through the Article Galaxy interface with transparent pricing from participating publishers
Retroactive Rights Purchase: Organizations can acquire AI rights for articles previously purchased, enabling immediate compliance for existing content libraries
Organization-Wide Licensing: AI Rights acquired apply across the entire organization, eliminating per-use restrictions and ongoing compliance concerns

“The combination of generative AI and scientific literature creates unprecedented opportunities for accelerating discovery, but only when researchers can access content legally and efficiently,” said Chris Bendall, VP of Product Strategy at Research Solutions. “We’ve built a solution that makes AI analysis of scientific content both legally compliant and operationally seamless—turning what was previously a compliance risk into a competitive advantage.”

About Research Solutions

Research Solutions (NASDAQ: RSSS) is a vertical SaaS and AI company that simplifies research workflow for academic institutions, life science companies, and research organizations worldwide. As one of the only publisher-independent marketplaces for scientific, technical, and medical (STM) content, the company uniquely combines AI-powered tools—including an intelligent research assistant and full-text search capabilities—with seamless access to both open access and paywalled research. The platform enables organizations to discover, access, manage, and analyze scientific literature more efficiently, accelerating the pace of scientific discovery.

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For more information, visit https://www.researchsolutions.com.