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Meta’s $14.8B minority stake in Scale AI positions it deeper in the AI infrastructure race without triggering antitrust review—yet.
Competitors like Google are already distancing themselves, highlighting growing strategic tensions.
Regulatory clarity on “acquihire” structures remains elusive, as enforcement under Trump’s DOJ takes shape.
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) has made its second-largest investment to date—$14.8 billion for a 49% nonvoting stake in Scale AI, a leading data-labeling startup supporting top AI firms including Microsoft and OpenAI. The transaction doesn’t require immediate regulatory review due to its non-controlling nature, but it could still come under scrutiny if regulators view it as a backdoor maneuver to limit competition.
Scale AI’s CEO, Alexandr Wang, will join Meta while maintaining a board seat at Scale, albeit with limited access to sensitive data. The dual role is a lightning rod in an already volatile regulatory environment, particularly with Google’s reported decision to sever ties with Scale following Meta’s involvement.
Meta’s investment highlights a broader shift in how big tech firms are securing AI talent and infrastructure. The “acquihire” structure—hiring top startup teams via strategic investments—is under increased scrutiny. Under the Biden administration, deals like Amazon’s hiring of Adept’s core team and Microsoft’s $650 million partnership with Inflection AI were met with inquiries but no enforcement. Trump’s regulatory approach may remain hands-off, but experts caution this is no free pass.
“This gives Meta insulation from immediate legal blowback,” said antitrust professor David Olson. “But depending on how this evolves—particularly if Meta gains competitive insight into rivals—regulators may revisit the structure.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren has already called for an investigation, arguing that such deals “unlawfully squash competition.” Meta remains under a separate FTC monopoly suit, and this move may further complicate its regulatory posture.
As AI becomes the next strategic frontier, companies are racing to lock in talent and infrastructure—but they may be doing so faster than the legal framework can evolve. Meta’s move may set a new precedent—or spark the next regulatory flashpoint.
