Just months after investing $14.3 billion into Scale AI and forming Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL), Meta is facing challenges in the partnership. Scale’s CEO Alexandr Wang and his team were brought on to lead the division, but cracks are emerging sooner than expected.

A key departure highlights this: Ruben Mayer, Scale AI’s former senior vice president, left Meta after only two months. Insiders say his duties centered on overseeing AI data operations, separate from TBD Labs. Mayer disputes that, clarifying that he was always part of TBD Labs and that his decision to leave was personal.

Another wrinkle is Meta’s growing reliance on alternative vendors. Although Scale AI received billions in backing, researchers at TBD Labs are increasingly using rivals such as Mercor and Surge, reportedly due to higher quality datasets.