Meta is making aggressive moves to dominate AI. The company, led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, recently launched a superintelligence team.
It is now offering massive compensation packages to lure top talent, and some offers reportedly exceed $100 million in total compensation.
According to reports, Meta’s offers have targeted employees at OpenAI and Google DeepMind.
These include industry-leading researchers with deep expertise in machine learning and advanced models.
The new team is led by Alexandr Wang, former CEO of Scale AI and the team’s workspace was placed near Zuckerberg’s own office.
Sam Altman Confirms the Poaching Attempt
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman confirmed these efforts in a podcast with his brother, Jack Altman. He stated that Meta has made “giant offers” to many team members.
Despite the sums involved, Altman said none of OpenAI’s key staff have accepted. “Meta has started making these, like, giant offers,” he said.
“I’m really happy that, at least so far, none of our best people have decided to take him up on that.”
Altman believes the decision to stay reflects more than loyalty. He said OpenAI employees assessed the situation carefully.
Many believe OpenAI has a better chance of building AGI (Artificial General Intelligence.)
Values Over Money
Altman criticized Meta’s compensation-driven approach. He argued that it does not foster innovation or long-term commitment.
Instead, he emphasized mission-driven work and a strong team culture. “We care deeply about what we’re building,” Altman explained. “That’s why people stay.”
He suggested that OpenAI’s goals attract employees who want to do meaningful work. High salaries alone, he noted, are not enough to create a great work environment.
Meta Struggles to Land Key Researchers
Meta has already made some high-profile hires. These include Google DeepMind’s Jack Rae and Sesame AI’s Johan Schalkwyk.
However, many top researchers have declined Meta’s offers. The company tried to recruit Noam Brown, one of OpenAI’s leading minds.
It also targeted Koray Kavukcuoglu from Google DeepMind. Both declined to join. These rejections echo Altman’s opinion: it’s not all about the money.
The Role of Innovation
Altman highlighted the role of innovation in OpenAI’s success. He claimed Meta has not achieved the same results in AI development.
“Meta’s current AI efforts have not worked as well as they hoped,” he said. He also stressed that catching up is not the same as leading. “You have to truly innovate to stay ahead,” he warned.
OpenAI has built a reputation for bold, effective research and has launched widely used tools like ChatGPT and DALL·E.
Altman believes the company’s internal culture fuels this momentum.
OpenAI’s Plans for Social Media
Altman also hinted at future plans involving social media. He described an AI platform that curates content based on individual user needs.
Unlike what’s out there, OpenAI would avoid default algorithmic feeds. This idea may compete directly with Meta’s core products.
Meta has already begun experimenting in this area. Its Meta AI app includes a social networking feature powered by AI.
However, early feedback has been mixed. Some users have accidentally shared personal content due to confusing features.
OpenAI is reportedly developing a social platform internally. And Sam Altman’s comments suggest a vision for a more personalized and private experience.
