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Meta to Acquire 49% Stake in Scale AI for Nearly $15 Billion, Reports Say

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Meta Platforms is reportedly set to purchase a 49% stake in AI data-labeling startup Scale AI for approximately $14.8 billion, according to The Information. The deal, which remains unfinalized, highlights Meta’s intensified efforts to strengthen its artificial intelligence capabilities amid mounting competition in the AI race.

Founded in 2016, Scale AI specializes in providing large volumes of labeled and curated training data essential for developing advanced AI tools, including those powering models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Scale AI’s investors, including Accel, Index Ventures, Founders Fund, and Greenoaks, are expected to benefit significantly from the deal.

Under the agreement, Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang is expected to join Meta in a leadership role, heading a new “superintelligence” lab within the company. This move aligns with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s push to recruit top AI talent and accelerate innovation, especially after Meta’s recent Llama 4 models underperformed relative to expectations.

Meta’s ambitious plans include the forthcoming release of its major AI model, dubbed “Behemoth,” which has faced delays due to performance concerns, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. The company is also navigating ongoing antitrust scrutiny related to past acquisitions like Instagram and WhatsApp.

Industry analysts note that the deal’s structure may be designed to minimize regulatory hurdles, addressing heightened scrutiny of large tech mergers. Scale AI, valued at $13.8 billion in a recent funding round, reported $870 million in revenue in 2024 and forecasts over $2 billion in 2025. The company ended last year with more than $900 million in cash reserves.

Meta’s Threads to Test Direct Messaging Feature in Select Markets

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Meta Platforms announced it will begin testing a direct messaging feature on its Threads app in select markets, including Hong Kong and Thailand. This new feature will introduce a dedicated inbox within Threads, removing the need for users to switch to Instagram’s messaging platform, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on Tuesday.

Currently, messages on Threads will not be encrypted. The addition of direct messaging aims to make Threads more competitive with rivals such as X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Reddit, enhancing user engagement by offering a more complete social experience.

Threads, launched in 2023 as a direct competitor to X after Elon Musk’s takeover, has grown rapidly and now has over 350 million monthly active users. In April, Meta expanded advertising on Threads to all eligible advertisers worldwide, although the company does not expect Threads to be a major revenue driver in 2025.

Research firm Emarketer projects that Threads’ monthly active users in the U.S. will rise 17.5% to 60.5 million by next year, surpassing X’s expected decline to 50 million users.

Amid U.S. trade restrictions and the rise of AI-powered ad targeting, social media platforms are enhancing their features and user experience to maintain competitiveness in a crowded market.

Snap to Launch Consumer Smart Glasses in 2026, Taking on Meta in AR Wearables

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Snap Inc. announced on Tuesday that it will release its first-ever smart glasses for general consumers in 2026, stepping up competition against Meta in the augmented reality (AR) wearable market. The new glasses, named Specs, are designed to be lightweight and user-friendly.

Snap, widely recognized for its Snapchat app and AR-powered animated filters, has invested over $3 billion in developing AR glasses over 11 years, according to CEO Evan Spiegel. The upcoming Specs will build on Snap’s prior developer-only 5th generation Spectacles launched last September.

Augmented reality enables overlaying digital effects on real-world images and videos through a camera or lens, creating interactive experiences. Snap aims to expand its product offerings and revenue sources beyond the digital advertising market, which faces uncertainties due to shifting U.S. trade policies.

The company will collaborate with Niantic Spatial, a platform for augmented reality and geospatial tech, to enhance Lens Studio, Snap’s app for creators to design and publish AR lenses for the Snapchat camera and Specs glasses.

Snap’s move follows strong momentum in AR wearables led by Meta, whose Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses—developed with EssilorLuxottica—have gained popularity. Meta continues integrating AI features into its glasses to broaden appeal. Google and other tech giants are also exploring investments in smart glasses.