Meta Platforms Inc. is in talks to make an investment of several billion dollars in the starter scale of artificial intelligence, according to people familiar with the problem.
Funding could exceed $ 10 billion in value, according to some people, making it one of the largest financing events of the private company for all time.
The terms of the agreement are not finalized and could still change, according to the people, who asked not to be identified by discussing private information.
A scale representative did not immediately respond to requests for comments. Meta refused to comment.
Scale AI, whose customers include Microsoft Corp. and OPENAI, provides data labeling services to help companies train automatic learning models and have become a key beneficiary of the AI arrow. The startup was valued for the last timeAbout $ 14 billionIn 2024, in a round of funding which included the support of Meta and Microsoft. EarlierThis yearBloomberg reported that the scale was in talks for a tender offer that would value it at 25 billion dollars.
It would be the biggest investment in Meta AI and a rare decision for the company. The social media giant previously depended mainly on his internal research, as well as a more open development strategy, to make improvements in its AI technology. Meanwhile, large technological peers have invested a lot: Microsoft hasPut more than $ 13 billionIn Openai while Amazon.com Inc. and Alphabet Inc. haveput Billions of rival peopleAnthropic.
Part of the investments of these companies were by credits to use their calculation power. Meta does not have a cloud company, and we do not know what format the investment of Meta will take.
The chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, made AI Meta's top priority and said in January that the company would pass asup to $ 65 billionOn related projects this year.
The push of the company includes an effort to make Llama the norm of industry in the world. The Meta chatbot – already available on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp – is used by 1 billion people per month.
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Scale, co-founded in 2016 by the CEOAlexandr WangIncreased quickly: the startup generated a turnover of $ 870 million last year and expects sales to be more than a double to $ 2 billion in 2025, Bloombergpreviously reported.
The scale plays a key role in providing AI data for companies. Because the AI is as good as the data that is entered, Scale uses scads of contractual workers to store and mark images, text and other data which can then be used for the formation of AI.
The scale and the meta share an interest in defense technology. Last week, Meta announced a new partnership with the defense entrepreneur Anduril Industries Inc. to develop products for the American army, including aHelmet fueled by AIwith virtual and augmented reality features. Meta also granted approval of American government agencies and defense entrepreneursUse its AI models.
The company is already associated with Scale on a program calledDefense llama– A version of the large LLAMA language model of Meta intended for military use.
The scale has worked more and more with the American government to develop an AI for defense purposes. Earlier this year, the startup said it has won a contract with the Ministry of Defensework on AIAgent technology. The company described the “important milestone in military progress” contract.
This story was initially presented on Fortune.com
