Meta–Scale AI Relationship Under Pressure

When Meta announced its $14.3 billion partnership with Scale AI in June, expectations were high. The deal created Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL), to be led by Scale CEO Alexandr Wang and several top colleagues. But early results suggest the collaboration may be more complicated than envisioned.

Two sources confirmed that Ruben Mayer, once Scale AI’s senior VP of GenAI Product and Operations, exited Meta shortly after joining. While reports claimed he only handled AI data operations and was not part of TBD Labs, Mayer rejected that version, saying he was engaged with the lab from the start and resigned for personal reasons.

Meanwhile, Meta appears less dependent on Scale than the investment would imply. TBD Labs is reportedly sourcing datasets from Scale’s competitors, including Surge and Mercor, because researchers prefer their quality. This shift underscores the fragility of the alliance.