Meta Platforms (META.O) has taken a bold step in the AI race by appointing Shengjia Zhao—one of the key co-creators of OpenAI’s ChatGPT—as the Chief Scientist of its newly formed Superintelligence Lab, as announced by CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Friday.
Shengjia Zhao, a former research scientist at OpenAI, played a pivotal role in the creation of some of the most powerful AI models to date, including ChatGPT, GPT-4, and OpenAI’s lighter models 4.1 and o3. He also led significant work in the area of synthetic data, which is crucial for scaling AI training while reducing dependence on real-world datasets.
The Superintelligence Lab is Meta’s most ambitious AI initiative to date. It is distinct from FAIR (Fundamental AI Research)—the company’s original AI research arm, led by deep learning pioneer Yann LeCun. The Superintelligence Lab is laser-focused on building foundation models such as the Llama family and ultimately achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
“In this role, Shengjia will set the research agenda and scientific direction for our new lab working directly with me and Alex,” Mark Zuckerberg posted on Threads.
“Shengjia has already pioneered several breakthroughs including a new scaling paradigm and distinguished himself as a leader in the field. I’m looking forward to working closely with him to advance his scientific vision.”
Zhao’s leadership is expected to define the trajectory of Meta’s AGI ambitions. According to Zuckerberg, Zhao has been instrumental in the lab’s foundation, stating that he has been “our lead scientist from day one.” His name first appeared in a June internal memo listing several high-profile AI recruits.
Meta’s recruitment of Zhao marks a significant escalation in the global AI talent arms race. The company has been actively poaching top AI researchers—many from OpenAI—with attractive compensation packages and equity deals.
This hiring spree follows the lackluster reception of Llama 4, Meta’s latest large language model. With Zhao at the helm, the company aims to regain momentum in the foundation model space and rival competitors like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind.
Zuckerberg recently disclosed that Meta plans to pour “hundreds of billions of dollars” into AI computing infrastructure to support the development of its next-generation models. The company's open-source approach to AGI has sparked both admiration and concern within the tech community.
With Zhao’s appointment, Meta is signaling its long-term commitment to becoming a leader in AGI development. His prior contributions to some of the most influential AI models position him well to lead Meta into the next era of intelligent systems.
Meta’s appointment of Shengjia Zhao, the co-creator of ChatGPT, as chief scientist and co-founder of its Superintelligence Lab signals a bold and strategic pivot in its pursuit of artificial general intelligence (AGI). With Zhao’s extensive experience leading breakthroughs at OpenAI—including GPT-4 and synthetic data innovations—Meta is clearly assembling a formidable AI talent base to rival existing giants.
The lab's independence from FAIR and its direct oversight by Zuckerberg and Alexandr Wang underlines its critical role in Meta’s long-term AI vision. At a time when the industry is fiercely competing for top minds, this move also showcases Meta’s willingness to invest heavily—both financially and intellectually—to leap ahead in the AGI race.
If successful, the Superintelligence Lab could shape not only Meta’s future but also redefine the global AI landscape. Zhao’s leadership will be central to ensuring that Meta’s open-source approach delivers innovation, accountability, and lasting impact in the AI ecosystem.