Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:META, ETR:FB2A, SWX:FB) is in advanced talks to bring on Nat Friedman, the former CEO of GitHub, as part of its expanding artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives, The Information reported on Wednesday, citing a person familiar with the matter.
The parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp is also reportedly in discussions with Daniel Gross, Friedman’s longtime collaborator and co-founder of the AI-focused investment firm NFDG, about a potential role at Meta focused on artificial intelligence.
Friedman currently serves on Meta’s Advisory Group, a council of external experts advising the company on emerging technologies and long-term innovation. If finalized, his transition into a formal leadership role would be a major step in Meta’s efforts to deepen its AI capabilities.
Gross, a prominent AI investor and entrepreneur, co-founded NFDG with Friedman. The fund is known for its early-stage bets on AI startups and is considered influential in Silicon Valley’s technology circles.
The Information also reported that Meta is exploring a partial acquisition of NFDG, though details of the potential deal remain limited. Such a move could provide Meta with access to NFDG’s portfolio and bolster its internal AI expertise.
The reported talks come as Meta ramps up its investments in artificial intelligence to compete with rivals such as Alphabet’s Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI. Last week, Meta announced a $14.8 billion investment in Scale AI, its second-largest investment to date. As part of that deal, Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang joined Meta to lead a newly formed “superintelligence” unit.