Wang's meme obsession during meetings

Alexandr Wang, Meta's 29-year-old chief AI officer, struggled to focus in meetings because he kept thinking of memes to post about Muse, Meta's new AI assistant.

“I would just like think of a meme and I'd be like 'Oh God, I have to get this out'”

Posts actually drove growth

Wang's chaotic X feed of off-color and eccentric references to Muse generated buzz among his coworkers. He said the posts made an impact on growth, which he found hilarious.

“It actually made an impact on growth, which is kind of hilarious.”

Goal was to make Meta cool again

Wang said his spur-of-the-moment posts served a broader goal. Despite owning Instagram and Facebook, Meta was historically not cool. The internet rewards risk, he believed.

“Despite having like these incredible pieces of cultural software like Instagram and Facebook, historically, Meta was not cool.”

Muse became Meta's breakthrough

Muse launched September eighth and reached the top of Apple's app store ten days later, surpassing ChatGPT. It helps users research, fill out forms, buy items, book reservations, and connect with services.

Young energy resonated with internet

The internet, tired of staid pronouncements from older CEOs like Mark Zuckerberg, who is forty-two, welcomed the boundless energy of a young executive newly empowered in the AI era.