Meta in talks to hire former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman for AI push

Meta is in talks to hire former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman to join the company’s artificial intelligence efforts, according to a report from The Information. The social media giant is also discussing bringing on Daniel Gross, Friedman’s partner in investment fund NFDG, and potentially acquiring a partial stake in their fund as part of a broader push to strengthen its AI capabilities.

What you should know: Meta’s recruitment efforts target two prominent figures in the tech investment world who could bolster the company’s AI development.

• Nat Friedman previously served as CEO of GitHub, a popular platform where software developers store and collaborate on code, and is currently part of Meta’s Advisory Group, an external council that provides guidance on technology and product development.
• Daniel Gross is Friedman’s partner in NFDG, their joint investment fund focused on technology ventures.
• Meta is also exploring a partial buyout of NFDG as part of these discussions.

The big picture: Major tech companies are intensifying their AI talent acquisition and partnerships to maintain competitive advantage in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence landscape.

• Meta announced a $14.8 billion investment in Scale AI last week, marking the company’s second-largest investment to date.
• The company hired Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang to lead Meta’s new superintelligence unit, demonstrating a pattern of bringing external AI expertise in-house.

Why this matters: These potential hires signal Meta’s commitment to accelerating its AI development through strategic talent acquisition rather than relying solely on internal resources.

• Friedman brings extensive experience in developer tools and open-source software from his tenure at GitHub.
• The discussions reflect the broader tech industry trend of companies competing aggressively for AI talent and expertise.

What’s next: Meta has not responded to requests for comment about the reported discussions, leaving the timeline and final terms of any potential agreements unclear.