Zuckerberg Recruits for New Meta AGI Group | Bloomberg Tech 6/10/2025

Key Concepts

• Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)
• Meta's AGI pursuit
• Apple's AI strategy (or lack thereof)
• Liquid Glass UI
• Trade talks between the U.S. and China
• Export restrictions and tariffs
• Robotaxis in London
• SpaceX vs. ULA
• AI Agents
• Corporate Espionage in HR Software

Meta's AGI Pursuit

• Zuckerberg's Involvement: Mark Zuckerberg is personally assembling a "super intelligence team" of 50 people at Meta HQ to pursue Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). He is heavily involved in recruiting, more so than he has been in over 20 years.
• Motivation: Zuckerberg was reportedly disappointed with Meta's AI model released in April. The motivation is to be the first to achieve AGI, which would provide a significant advantage in product adoption (e.g., AI chatbot, Ray-Ban glasses).
• Recruiting Tactics: Zuckerberg is hosting potential recruits at his homes in Palo Alto and Lake Tahoe, offering salaries of $2 million plus.
• Resources: Meta is leveraging its strong advertising business and tens of billions of dollars on hand to fund these expensive AI improvements.
• Scale AI Investment: A dollar investment is expected to go into Scale AI. The CEO of Scale AI is expected to join Meta's new super intelligence team.

Apple's AI Strategy and WWDC Recap

• Liquid Glass: Apple introduced a new software redesign called "Liquid Glass" with a transparent menu and glossy look. It's available in all of Apple's devices.
• AI Gap Year: Analysts suggest Apple is taking an "AI gap year" and not promising any new AI features until June 2026.
• ChatGPT Partnership: Apple has partnered with ChatGPT for features like analyzing screenshots.
• Third-Party Developer Access: Apple is providing third-party developers with access to on-device LLMs and software tools to develop their own AI features.
• App Improvements: Apple made major improvements to core apps like Safari, Phone, and Camera.
• iPad OS: The new iPad operating system makes the iPad more like a computer.
• Analyst Sentiment: Some analysts found the event disappointing, citing a lack of significant AI announcements.

U.S.-China Trade Talks

• Talks in London: Trade talks between the U.S. and China are ongoing in London.
• U.S. Objectives: The U.S. is seeking an advanced pace of rare earth send magnets.
• China's Objectives: China is seeking an easing of export controls.
• Time Crunch: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has to be back on Capitol Hill tomorrow.
• Huawei Founder's Comments: Huawei founder stated that the restrictions are not so bad.
• Chip Controls: The presence of the Commerce Secretary suggests that chip export controls are on the table.
• Market Reaction: Chinese stocks have been volatile in response to the trade talks.
• Risk Premium: Companies that have been spoken about are reflecting a bit of a risk premium.

Robotaxis in London

• Uber and Wave Trial: Uber and Wave are planning their first trial run of fully autonomous vehicles in London.
• London's Challenges: London streets are different from those in Phoenix, Arizona, or Austin, Texas, with varying weather conditions and older roads.
• Value Chain: A robotaxi service requires different parts of the value chain, including self-driving tech, hardware, software, vehicle ownership, app operation, and fleet management.
• Missing Pieces: The announcement is missing details on hardware management, on-the-ground operations, charging infrastructure, and vehicle maintenance.

Space Industry and the Musk-Trump Spat

• Musk's Threat: Elon Musk threatened to decommission Dragon in response to President Trump threatening to cancel government contracts.
• ULA as an Alternative: United Launch Alliance (ULA) is presented as a competitor to SpaceX, particularly in government space and Amazon's Kuiper constellation.
• ULA Launches: ULA will be flying its Heritage Atlas vehicle and its brand-new Vulcan vehicle.
• Vulcan's Development: Vulcan has just finished its development and is certified for national security.
• Dependency on SpaceX: Taking away SpaceX would put the U.S. back in a position dependent on the Russians to go to and from the space station.
• ULA Acquisition: ULA was subject to acquisition.

Talking Tech

• TSMC's Revenue Surge: TSMC reported a surge in revenue and jumped 40% under the stockpile chips in response to trade uncertainty.
• Cisco's AI Networks: Cisco is updating its lineup of networking and security firms in an effort to make AI networks speedier and more secure.
• Fred Startup: Fred is launching his own startup and plans to build a consumer satellite product that means to treat brain disease and improve mood.
• European Startups: Bloomberg and Founders formed joint forces to highlight the European companies and founders aiming to have an impact on a global scale crating a list of 25 Euros starters to watch.

VC Spotlight: Pre-Notable Capital

• Focus on Founders: Pre-Notable Capital focuses on serving founders and providing them with unique experience and support.
• AI Infrastructure: The firm is focused on infrastructure, particularly for AI agents.
• AI Agents: AI agents are nonhumans who are helping with building software, helping with other functions like sales, like customer support and success.
• Global Companies: Pre-Notable Capital helps entrepreneurs build global companies, starting in the U.S. market.
• Talent Market: The talent market is complex, with AI agents taking jobs in entry-level areas.

Corporate Espionage in HR Software

• Rippling vs. Deal: HR software makers Rippling and Deal are engaged in dueling charges of corporate espionage.
• Accusations: Rippling accuses Deal of having a spy who took information from their Slack.
• Key Person: The key person at the center is a man named Keith O'Brien who lives in London and allegedly spied.
• Venture Community Reaction: Reactions in the venture community are mixed, with some defending it and others condemning it.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The broadcast covers a range of topics in the tech world, from Meta's aggressive pursuit of AGI and Apple's cautious AI approach to the complexities of U.S.-China trade talks and the emerging robotaxi market. It also delves into the space industry, highlighting the competition between SpaceX and ULA, and concludes with a look at venture capital investments and a corporate espionage scandal. The overall tone suggests a dynamic and rapidly evolving tech landscape, with significant opportunities and challenges for companies and investors alike.