Meta Platforms is in advanced discussions to hire Nat Friedman, the former CEO of GitHub, to join its growing artificial intelligence (AI) division, according to a report. The move underscores Meta’s aggressive push to dominate the AI landscape alongside other tech giants.
Friedman, who is currently a partner at the venture fund NFDG, is already part of Meta’s Advisory Group, an external council that provides strategic guidance on product development and emerging technologies.
Meta May Also Bring in Daniel Gross, Expand AI Talent Roster
In addition to Friedman, Meta is reportedly in talks with Daniel Gross, Friedman’s partner at NFDG, about taking on a role within the company’s AI efforts. The company is also considering a partial acquisition of NFDG, signalling a broader strategy to bring in top AI talent and invest in early-stage innovation.
If finalised, these hires would further enhance Meta’s ability to develop cutting-edge AI tools and services.
Meta Ramps Up AI Investment and Leadership
The potential hiring of Friedman and Gross follows Meta’s $14.8 billion investment in Scale AI, announced last week. The deal marks Meta’s second-largest investment ever, as it builds out its AI infrastructure and product pipeline.
As part of that move, Meta also brought on Alexandr Wang, CEO of Scale AI, to lead a new Superintelligence Unit, responsible for pushing the boundaries of large language models and generative AI technologies.
Nat Friedman’s Role in Meta’s AI Vision
Friedman is widely respected in the tech world for his leadership at GitHub, where he played a key role in integrating AI into developer workflows through GitHub Copilot. His involvement in Meta’s Advisory Group and potential full-time role suggest a significant deepening of ties between his expertise and Meta’s AI roadmap.
Bringing in visionaries like Friedman and Gross could give Meta a strategic advantage in developing scalable, human-aligned AI systems and accelerating innovation across its product ecosystem.
AI Talent Wars Intensify Among Big Tech Firms
Meta’s ongoing recruitment and investment efforts come amid a high-stakes race for AI dominance among the world’s leading tech firms. From Microsoft to Google and Amazon, companies are competing fiercely for top talent, strategic acquisitions, and infrastructure expansion to power AI research and deployment at scale.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has previously emphasised that AI is central to Meta’s future, spanning products like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and the company’s metaverse ambitions.
Meta’s reported negotiations with Nat Friedman and Daniel Gross, along with its multi-billion-dollar AI investments, highlight the company’s long-term commitment to leading in artificial intelligence. By integrating top-tier talent and acquiring innovation-led firms like Scale AI, Meta is positioning itself to be a global AI powerhouse.
