Figma CEO says AI superintelligence is not a looming threat to the company

Dylan Field, the co-founder and CEO of Figma, addressed concerns about artificial intelligence during a recent interview, asserting that it does not pose a significant threat to the company's future. As Figma prepares to launch its public stock offering, Field expressed skepticism about the imminent arrival of AI superintelligence during his discussion on CNBC's "Squawk Box." Field remarked, "In this era, some may believe that superintelligence is on the horizon, capable of surpassing human capabilities. However, I find it hard to accept that we will reach that point rapidly. Yet, that doesn't completely rule it out as a possibility." Figma is set to start trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "FIG." The company recently announced a share price of $33, surpassing its initial estimate of $25 to $28, which places its valuation at approximately $19.3 billion. Initially, Figma was expected to merge with Adobe for $20 billion, but the acquisition fell through in December 2023 due to regulatory hurdles. As discussions around AI superintelligence gain traction in the tech industry, Field highlighted the intricacies of Figma's graphics technology, suggesting it is not easily replicable by advanced AI. He stated, "These are complex elements that cannot be simply learned from existing code or data available online; they are not included in typical training data. Scaling such technology is quite challenging." In contrast, Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been vocal about the promise of superintelligence. In a recent memo, he described it as a means for "individual empowerment" rather than merely enhancing automation and efficiency. Meta has even established a dedicated lab focused on superintelligence, with Zuckerberg investing billions to attract leading AI talent.