Top 3 Signals This Week
1) Meta to invest $14.8 billion for a 49% stake in Scale AI
As part of the deal, Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang will take a senior role at Meta, leading a new “superintelligence” lab.
➤ Why is Meta doing this deal? Mark Zuckerberg is reportedly frustrated with Meta’s position in the AI race and fears the company may be falling behind.
➤ Why not a full acquisition? Meta is already facing antitrust scrutiny over its past acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. According to The Information report, the structure for the potential deal with Scale AI could be designed to avoid more regulatory scrutiny.
➤ Why is Scale AI selling? According to investor Shail Kaveti, customers like OpenAI, Anthropic, even Meta, were building similar systems in-house. And agents might soon replace what Scale does best without the humans.
2) Tesla’s Public Robotaxi Rides to Begin June 22, Elon Musk Says
Tesla plans to launch public rides in its self-driving robotaxis starting June 22 in Austin, Texas, with about 10-20 Model Y SUVs operating under remote supervision. The move comes as Tesla pivots away from cheaper EVs and bets its future on autonomous vehicles amid regulatory and safety challenges. Video credit from X
➤ Why it matters: The public rollout of robotaxis could redefine mobility, accelerate demand for autonomous tech talent, and intensify the competition in self-driving innovation, impacting hiring and skill requirements across the industry.
3) Employers in Singapore See More Hirings and Firings in Q3, Says ManpowerGroup
A new survey shows Singapore’s hiring outlook for Q3 2025 is mixed: 43% of employers plan to increase hiring, but 19% anticipate workforce reductions—driven by both company expansion and economic challenges. Healthcare, life sciences, information technology, transport, logistics and automotives sectors show the brightest hiring prospects, while consumer goods, industrials, financials, and real estate lag.
➤ Why it matters: The simultaneous uptick in hiring and layoffs highlights the volatility and rapid transformation in tech and adjacent sectors, emphasising the need for adaptable leadership and agile workforce strategies amid shifting market demands.
💡 Headhunter’s Lens
Moving from corporate to startups can seem exciting, but it’s not always the right fit. Startups often mean less structure, fewer resources, and constant ambiguity. If you thrive on clear processes, defined roles, and stability, the chaos of early-stage life might feel more draining than energising. It’s not just about working harder, it’s about being comfortable when no one’s telling you what to do and the ground keeps shifting under your feet.
Here are key questions to ask yourself before jumping into a startup:
- Can I handle uncertainty and rapid change?
- Do I need structure to do my best work?
- Am I comfortable wearing multiple hats?
- How do I feel about financial and career risk?
- Am I energized by building things from scratch?
- Can I thrive without constant feedback or approval?
- Do I care more about impact or prestige?
- Is now the right time personally and financially?
- Am I okay with failure being a real possibility?
- Do I truly believe in the startup’s mission or product?
🚀 Executive Move to Watch
Koray Kavukcuoglu → Chief AI Architect at Google
Koray Kavukcuoglu, currently CTO of DeepMind, has been promoted to a newly created Chief AI Architect role at Google. Kavukcuoglu will report directly to Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and will move from London to Mountain View, California.
📬 One to Forward
🎧 Cathie Wood, CEO of Ark Invest, reveals the best investments to make in 2025.
She also explains:
- How there’s only 5 years until everything changes, and what you must do to prepare.
- The simple strategy that will skyrocket your passive income.
- How Tesla’s autonomous taxis and humanoid robots will reshape entire industries.
And many more.