Scale AI has named Francis DeSouza, a former Google Cloud executive, as chief executive officer, effective August 10, to lead the company’s expansion of its data and applications businesses.

The company has recently added BP and Mayo Clinic as enterprise customers and expanded collaborations with U.S. and international governments.

DeSouza’s appointment follows Meta’s $14.3 billion investment in Scale AI, highlighting the ongoing evolution of Scale’s strategic partnerships.

The hire comes amid a tense AI environment marked by security concerns around models and debates over access to open-weight systems, and DeSouza supports responsible progress without slowing development.

DeSouza has said Scale aims to translate AI hype into practical, deployable solutions for organizations.

The leadership change occurs as the industry weighs rapid development against responsible deployment, with DeSouza advocating a responsible pace while pursuing Scale’s growth beyond its first act.

DeSouza frames Scale’s applications business as additive to its core offerings and stresses helping organizations deploy AI responsibly and reliably.

Scale AI’s strategy centers on “provable outcomes” and moving up the value chain toward enterprise-grade AI software for companies and governments.

Prior to Scale, DeSouza led Illumina as president and CEO, where revenue rose to over $4.5 billion and expansion reached more than 150 countries.

Industry tensions over pace and safety persist, with leaders calling for slower progress, yet DeSouza emphasizes responsible deployment rather than a blanket slowdown.

DeSouza holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT.