A year after Mark Zuckerberg appointed Alexandr Wang to spearhead Meta’s AI revival, the company has unveiled Muse Spark – its most promising model yet. By entrusting a start-up founder with the task, Zuckerberg hoped for fresh perspectives. So far, Wang's efforts are showing signs of success, despite initial skepticism.

Wang, now 29, has built an elite research team and transformed parts of Meta’s AI operation. His TBD Lab is emerging as one of the company's most influential units, with a dinner at the White House to prove it. The release of Muse Spark in April marks a significant milestone in Meta’s quest for AI parity.

While his methods are praised, Wang still faces criticism over his experience and internal politics. However, his supporters argue that his fast-paced approach may be just what the company needs to catch up with rivals like OpenAI, Google and Anthropic. Professor Russ Salakhutdinov of Carnegie Mellon University sees potential in Wang's work, noting both his ambition and willingness to learn.