Meta, Scale, and the Future of AI Labeling: Did Zuck Just Kill a Category? | E2139

Meta just took a 49% stake in Scale AI, and the shockwaves are hitting the entire AI ecosystem. In this episode, Jason and Alex unpack the deal’s implications: Google ($150M customer!) and others are fleeing Scale, worried Meta will hoard its RLHF infrastructure and cut off competitors. Startups like Labelbox, Turing, and Handshake are already seeing a demand surge. Is this smart vertical integration or anti-competitive overreach? Jason shares tactical advice for founders on how to capitalize when incumbents stumble—hire ex-Scale talent, build “Scale AI alternative” SEO pages, and hit the podcast circuit. Don’t miss this deep dive into AI’s shifting power dynamics.

Speakers

AI Chat

Jason Calacanis

Host • 78%

Unidentified

Alex Wilhelm

Host • 21%

Partners

Chapters

0:00	Meta's potential anti-competitive moves with Scale AI
0:54	Sponsor: OpenPhone
1:31	Jason's travel updates, family vacation, and visit to xAI
6:35	AI competition, societal impacts, and Tesla Robo taxi experience
10:04	Sponsor: OpenPhone
13:17	Jason's travel plans, events, and PostHog's business model
20:08	Sponsor: Vanta
22:16	Cost, utility, and innovation in cyber cabs and Singapore taxis
25:46	Business models in defense contracting and startup strategies
30:17	Sponsor: Pilot
37:47	Meta and Scale AI deal implications and market share strategies
45:26	Leveraging media for marketing and ethical competitive intelligence
48:23	The rise, fall, and customer acquisition in on-demand startups
51:16	Cohort analysis, customer sources, and securities fraud risks
58:42	The dangers of overfunding and importance of product market fit
1:07:10	Investing trends in second-time founders and capital raising
1:09:05	Closing remarks and sign-off

Transcript

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