Hi Synapticians!

Meta has consolidated every one of its AI units, FAIR, the Llama team and product-oriented groups into a single division called Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL). The objective is explicit: build “frontier” models that can match or exceed today’s leading systems. Mark Zuckerberg told employees he is prepared to commit “hundreds of billions of dollars” over the coming years to reach that goal.

Alexandr Wang, recruited through Meta’s $14.3 billion purchase of a 49 % stake in Scale AI, becomes Chief AI Officer. He is joined by former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman and investor Daniel Gross, who will steer applied research and productisation.

To accelerate progress, Meta has already hired eleven senior researchers from OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Waymo and Anthropic : names such as Shuchao Bi (GPT-4o voice), Jack Rae (Gemini/Chinchilla) and Pei Sun (Waymo perception). This hiring spree has ignited a high-stakes talent war: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says Meta dangled $100 million signing bonuses at key engineers, an accusation echoed internally by OpenAI Chief Research Officer Mark Chen, who compared the raids to “someone breaking into our home.”

MSL therefore rests on three pillars: (1) organisational consolidation to reduce duplication, (2) unprecedented capital expenditure on compute and data, and (3) aggressive recruitment of proven researchers. Whether these measures will close the performance gap left by Llama 4’s underwhelming debut is still uncertain, but Meta’s strategic intent is now unmistakable and the broader AI ecosystem is already feeling the pressure.

Here’s the rest of the news about AI today:

• The Velvet Sundown, an AI-generated band, has amassed over 500,000 Spotify listeners

• Google has introduced over 30 AI tools aimed at enhancing classroom learning through its Gemini AI suite

• Songscription has launched an AI tool that converts audio files into sheet music in minutes

Top AI news

1. Meta's New AI Division Targets Superintelligence
Meta has launched Meta Superintelligence Labs, a new AI division aimed at developing systems with human or superhuman capabilities. Led by Alexandr Wang, the division consolidates Meta's AI teams and recruits top talent from OpenAI and Google. Meta plans significant investments to regain its competitive edge in AI. Read online 🕶️

2. AI-Generated Band Captivates Half a Million on Spotify
The Velvet Sundown, an AI-generated band, has amassed over 500,000 Spotify listeners. This raises questions about the authenticity and creativity of AI in music, as the band seamlessly integrates into playlists, yet reveals its machine origins upon closer listening. Read online 🕶️

3. Google's AI Tools Transforming Classroom Learning
Google has introduced over 30 AI tools aimed at enhancing classroom learning through its Gemini AI suite. These tools offer personalized and engaging educational experiences, allowing teachers to create lesson plans and interactive study guides. The initiative represents a significant push into the edtech space, addressing the growing use of AI in education. Read online 🕶️

4. AI-Powered Tool Transcribes Audio to Sheet Music in Minutes
Songscription has launched an AI tool that converts audio files into sheet music in minutes. This innovation is designed for both professional and hobbyist musicians, offering a freemium model. The tool is most reliable for piano but plans to expand to other instruments. It raises legal questions about AI in music transcription. Read online 🕶️

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