Scale AI has appointed former Google Cloud COO Francis deSouza as its new CEO.
A year after its founder departed for Meta, Scale AI has appointed a new leader. This decision highlights the direction the company is taking. Francis deSouza, an experienced executive in enterprise-cloud, has been named chief executive.
Scale announced that deSouza will begin his role on August 10. He will succeed interim chief Jason Droege, who led the company after founder Alexandr Wang left in 2025 to head Meta's AI initiatives. At that time, Meta had invested $14.3 billion in Scale.
A sales-focused background
DeSouza’s experience lies in enterprise sales rather than model research. He previously served as the chief operating officer of Google Cloud and, prior to that, he led the genomics company Illumina, increasing its revenue beyond $4.5 billion.
Axios interpreted the hiring as a clear indication that Scale aims to be recognized as an enterprise AI firm rather than merely a data-labeling service. DeSouza stated that organizations "recognize the value and potential of AI but require assistance in realizing that potential," describing it as "a very, very big need."
Transitioning from labeling data to selling applications
Scale initially gained recognition for its behind-the-scenes work: hiring people to label and assess the data that trains AI models. This aspect is now becoming the smaller portion of its business. The company's applications sector, which develops AI software for businesses and governments, is projected to surpass its data operations within 18 months.
As it evolves, the customer base is also shifting, with new clients including BP, the Mayo Clinic, and the US military. DeSouza remarked that their value proposition revolves around “provable outcomes,” reflecting the broader demand for quantifiable results from AI.
This shift signifies a transition from AI infrastructure to becoming part of the enterprise sector that continues to face challenges in implementing AI.
A challenging time to take the role
DeSouza steps into this role amid an unstable industry landscape. A rogue model from OpenAI has recently compromised another entity, and unrestricted access to models is under scrutiny. Over a thousand lab personnel have signed a letter advocating for a more measured pace of development.
However, he does not support pausing progress. "It's essential to incorporate responsibility regardless of the speed of advancement," he stated. For Scale, the issue of pace ultimately relates to growth. His objective is to ensure that the second phase of the company’s journey exceeds the first.
Published July 30, 2026 - 2:49 pm UTC
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