After ScaleAI, Meta acquires voice AI startup PlayAI to boost its AI ambitions

Meta, the parent company of popular social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Instagram, has successfully acquired PlayAI, a startup specializing in voice artificial intelligence. This information was revealed in a report by Bloomberg, which also noted that the entire PlayAI team is set to join Meta next week. The new addition will report to Johan Schalkwyk, who recently transitioned to Meta from Sesame AI, another company focused on voice technologies. While a Meta spokesperson confirmed the acquisition, the financial details of the deal were not disclosed. According to an internal memo obtained by Bloomberg, the PlayAI team's expertise in developing natural-sounding voices and a streamlined voice creation platform aligns well with Meta's ambitions across various projects including AI Characters, Meta AI, wearables, and audio content generation. This acquisition marks a significant step as Meta prioritizes AI development this year, investing heavily in infrastructure such as data centers and chips, and actively recruiting new talent to enhance its AI capabilities. The urgency for innovation surged following the launch of Meta's LLaMA 4 models earlier this year, which received a lukewarm response compared to competitors like Google and OpenAI. In response to these challenges, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced the formation of a new division titled Meta Superintelligence Labs, designed to push the boundaries of AI technology ahead of rivals. The unit is led by Alexandr Wang, the former CEO of Scale AI, which Meta acquired for $14.3 billion. Furthermore, Meta has been aggressively attracting top AI experts from leading companies such as OpenAI and Google, offering lucrative bonuses that could reach up to $100 million. Among the notable hires are the creators behind the advanced GPT-4 and GPT-4o models, along with Ruoming Pang, a top Apple AI executive, who reportedly accepted a compensation package exceeding $200 million.