Mark Zuckerberg’s big move: Who is 28-year-old Alexandr Wang, now heading Meta’s AI division

In 2025, Meta took a step that drew wide attention in the technology space. Mark Zuckerberg appointed 28-year-old Alexandr Wang to lead the company’s entire artificial intelligence operation. The announcement came alongside Meta’s investment of about US$ 14.3 billion in Scale AI, the company founded by Wang.The move placed a young entrepreneur at the centre of Meta’s future plans and sparked curiosity around one name. Who is Alexandr Wang, and how did he reach this position so early in his career?According to Reuters, Alexandr Wang was born in New Mexico to Chinese immigrant parents who worked as physicists. From an early age, he showed a clear interest in math and computer science. This interest later led him to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.In 2016, Wang decided to leave MIT before completing his studies. His focus had shifted towards building a company in the fast-growing artificial intelligence space.After leaving college, Wang founded Scale AI. The idea behind the company was based on a simple need in the tech industry. As machine learning models grew more complex, companies needed accurate and well-organised data to train these systems.Scale AI focused on providing annotated data at scale. Over time, the company became an important support partner for several major technology firms. Its clients included NVIDIA, Amazon, and Meta.As reported by Reuters, by 2024, Scale AI reached a valuation of nearly US$ 14 billion. This also made Wang one of the youngest self-made billionaires in the artificial intelligence industry.Meta’s investment in Scale AI was not limited to funding. As part of the move, Alexandr Wang was appointed to lead a new division called Meta Superintelligence Labs.Under this division, Wang oversees Meta’s AI research, infrastructure, and product development. His role brings together different AI teams under one leadership structure.As per the report, in an internal memo, Wang wrote, “Superintelligence is coming, and in order to take it seriously, we need to organize around the key areas that will be critical to reach it by research, product, and infrastructure.”At 28, Alexandr Wang has moved from being a startup founder to leading one of Meta’s most important divisions. From leaving MIT to building Scale AI and now heading Meta Superintelligence Labs, his journey reflects how quickly the AI industry is evolving.As Meta continues to invest in artificial intelligence, Wang’s role will be central in shaping the company’s direction in the years ahead.Alexandr Wang’s rise shows how fast the AI world is moving and how young talent can shape its future. From leaving MIT to building a billion-dollar startup and now leading Meta’s AI ambitions, Wang’s journey highlights both his vision and the opportunities in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. As Meta bets big on artificial intelligence, all eyes will be on Wang to see how his leadership shapes the company’s next chapter.As artificial intelligence moves from research labs into everyday products, Wang’s decisions will play a key role in how Meta competes in the global AI race. His appointment also signals how much the tech industry is now relying on young founders to drive its biggest bets.Thumb image: Instagram/ Alexandr Wang