Data-labeling firm Scale AI confirmed on Friday that it has received a "significant" investment from Meta that values the startup at $29 billion.

Meta Platform Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg’s efforts to shape up the company’s artificial-intelligence ambitions took a step forward with an investment in ScaleAI and the poaching of its founder. Meta’s investment values the data-labeling AI startup at over $29 billion,

Alexandr Wang dropped out of MIT to co-found Scale and was quickly lauded as one of Silicon Valley's most promising entrepreneurs, raising funding from blue-chip venture capital firms and achieving billionaire status in his 20s.

The planned deal is part of a broader revamp of Meta’s AI leadership after its struggles to build the technology.

In a strategic move, Meta invests $14.3 billion in Scale AI, taking a 49 per cent stake in the data-labelling startup. Scale's CEO Alexandr Wang will play a key role in shaping Meta's AI future, particularly in superintelligence.

Facebook owner Meta's $14.8 billion investment in Scale AI and hiring of the data-labeling startup's CEO will test how the Trump administration views so-called acquihire deals, which some have criticized as an attempt to evade regulatory scrutiny.