Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has acquired Play AI, a startup renowned for creating human-like, AI-generated voices, in a strategic move to supercharge its voice-based artificial intelligence capabilities.
The acquisition was confirmed by a Meta spokesperson, as reported by Bloomberg, with the entire Play AI team expected to join Meta next week. While financial details were not disclosed, insiders say the move underscores Meta’s intensifying focus on immersive, voice-driven AI applications across its products.
According to an internal memo seen by Bloomberg, Play AI’s technology aligns seamlessly with Meta’s broader AI ambitions, supporting projects in AI Characters, Meta AI, wearables, and audio content creation. The memo described Play AI’s expertise as “a great match for our work and roadmap.”
Strengthening Meta’s AI arsenal
The Play AI acquisition is part of a series of bold investments by Meta to secure its position as a global AI leader. In late June 2025, Meta acquired a 49% stake in Scale AI for $14.3 billion. This landmark deal included bringing on board Scale AI’s co-founder and CEO, Alexandr Wang, as Meta’s Chief AI Officer and head of the newly formed Meta Superintelligence Labs.
Wang’s appointment represents a pivotal move for Meta. Under his leadership, Scale AI grew into a powerhouse providing crucial data infrastructure for AI training, serving heavyweights like Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and the U.S. Department of Defense. By 2024, Scale AI was valued at $13.8 billion.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has tasked Wang with unifying and accelerating the company’s AI initiatives, further solidifying Meta’s aggressive shift toward AI as its core business focus.
In its quest for AI supremacy, Meta has also been actively recruiting top researchers from rival firms. As reported by Bloomberg, Meta recently attracted Jack Rae, a principal researcher from Google DeepMind, and has repeatedly tried to lure staff from OpenAI — reportedly offering signing bonuses as high as $100 million.
During a podcast interview, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman confirmed these attempts but noted that none of OpenAI’s top talent accepted Meta’s offers. Altman emphasized that his team is motivated by mission-driven work and cultural fit over financial incentives, subtly questioning whether Meta’s culture is conducive to fostering true AI innovation.
Meta has yet to comment publicly on these recruitment efforts.
Changing AI strategy
Historically, Meta relied heavily on in-house research and open-source models, notably its LLaMA (Large Language Model Meta AI) series. This approach contrasted with rivals like Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet, who have aggressively funded external AI startups such as OpenAI and Anthropic.
However, this self-reliant strategy is now evolving. In January 2025, Zuckerberg declared AI the company’s top priority, unveiling plans to invest up to $65 billion in AI infrastructure and innovation throughout the year.
In support of these ambitions, Meta is reportedly in advanced talks to raise $29 billion to bolster its AI infrastructure push. The funding includes $3 billion in equity and $26 billion in debt, with negotiations involving major private equity giants such as Apollo Global Management, KKR, Brookfield, Carlyle, and Pimco. The capital will primarily support the development of next-generation data centers across the U.S., crucial to hosting Meta’s increasingly complex AI models.
What this means
The acquisition of Play AI adds a critical layer to Meta’s AI stack, enhancing its capabilities in creating highly realistic, human-like voices — a key asset for future virtual assistants, metaverse experiences, and AI-generated content.
With massive investments, high-profile acquisitions, and an intensified global talent hunt, Meta’s latest moves signal a clear message: the company is doubling down on artificial intelligence as the backbone of its future.
