Scale & Strategy
This is Scale & Strategy, the business newsletter that checks itself so you don’t wreck yourself.
Here’s what we got for you today:
- Meta blows up its AI org chart
- How to actually pick a PPC agency (without getting burned)
Meta blows up its AI org chart
Meta just tore down its AGI Foundations division and is shuffling everything into four new units under Alexandr Wang — while slamming the brakes on hiring after months of aggressive poaching.
The details:
- Wang’s memo lays out new teams for research, training, products, and infrastructure, with most leads now reporting straight to him.
- Hiring is frozen across the AI org, with any exceptions needing Wang’s personal sign-off.
- The old AGI Foundations team is being scattered into other groups, while a new “TBD Lab” will chase omni models and frontier AI experiments.
- Chief Scientist Yann LeCun now reports directly to Wang, who framed FAIR as the “innovation engine” for MSL.
Why it matters: Meta’s AI free-for-all is over — and consolidation is in. The restructure signals Wang’s team wants tighter control and faster execution. What’s less clear is how the shuffle lands with FAIR and other teams suddenly left wondering where they fit in the new pecking order.
How to actually pick a PPC agency (without getting burned)
Everyone knows the starter pack: read reviews, skim case studies, compare fees.
That’s table stakes.
If you actually want an agency that won’t set your ad budget on fire, you need to dig deeper. Derick Turner lays out some overlooked filters worth running every PPC shop through:
1. Size vs. budget.
Good agencies aren’t cheap. If a big-name shop says they’ll take your tiny budget, watch out — odds are you’re just training their interns. Translation: you’re not getting the A-team, you’re funding their sandbox.
2. Their roster.
“Look, we run campaigns for BMW!” Great. But when your account goes sideways, do you really think they’ll pull resources from a global brand to save your CAC? You want to be a priority, not a rounding error.
3. Location matters.
Yes, it’s a remote world. But rent in San Francisco vs. Omaha = very different fee structures. And if you’re a local business, having someone who actually knows the market beats whatever “desk research” the agency does from 2,000 miles away.
4. Who’s actually on your account.
Case studies are almost always written about the work of the agency’s rockstars — not the junior who’ll be managing your spend. Ask who’s running your campaigns and grill them directly. If they dodge? That’s your answer.
Bottom line: The checklist isn’t enough.
Agencies love shiny decks, but you need to ask the uncomfortable questions. That’s how you find a partner who protects your budget instead of just burning through it.
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