Alexandr Wang, the Chief AI Officer at Meta and head of its SuperIntelligence Labs, has revealed a highly unconventional approach to starting a family. In a recent appearance on The Shawn Ryan Show, Wang stated that he intends to wait until Elon Musk’s Neuralink or similar brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies are “very advanced” before having children, highlighting the unique neuroplasticity of young brains.
Wang, who previously founded and led Scale AI before joining Meta in 2025, explained his reasoning by highlighting how children’s brains in the first seven years of life are far more flexible and adaptable than adult brains. “I’ll have kids after Neuralink is very advanced, because children’s brains in the first seven years are more flexible and can learn brain-computer interfaces, unlocking more potential than adult brains,” Wang said.
He further elaborated on the concept of neuroplasticity, noting, “I think with plasticity, you’re talking, in general, you’re talking about the entire brain. You’re talking about altering a trillion synapses all in a similar way.”
Wang wants his children to have a cognitive edge in an AI-dominated world
Wang’s statement reflects a broader concern among some tech leaders that the rapid exponential growth of artificial intelligence, particularly toward superintelligence, is outpacing human biological evolution. He views BCIs like Neuralink not merely as medical tools for restoring functions in patients with paralysis (Neuralink’s current focus in clinical trials), but as potential cognitive enhancements essential for humans to stay competitive.
By delaying parenthood, Wang hopes that his future children can integrate advanced BCIs seamlessly during their critical early development phase, allowing them to interact with superintelligent systems more intuitively and naturally than adults who adopt the technology later in life. This, he believes, could fundamentally expand human potential in an era where AI continues to accelerate.
The remarks have sparked discussions in tech circles about the ethical implications of “Neuralink babies,” including questions of consent, long-term brain health, privacy, and the boundary between human and machine.
Wang’s rise in AI leadership
Alexandr Wang‘s comments come amid his prominent role at Meta, where he leads the billion-dollar SuperIntelligence Labs (MSL), a team assembled by Mark Zuckerberg to rival leaders like Google and OpenAI in the race for advanced AI. Recently, Wang announced aggressive hiring efforts in Singapore, including the integration of a 100-person team from the acquired Manus AI, while also addressing internal restructurings and layoffs to accelerate progress toward superintelligence.
The 28-year-old entrepreneur, who dropped out of MIT to co-found Scale AI in 2016 at age 19, became one of the world’s youngest self-made billionaires. Scale AI, which provides critical data labeling and evaluation services for AI development, saw Meta acquire a 49% stake in 2025, paving the way for Wang’s transition to Meta as Chief AI Officer.
