Meta Reportedly Offers $100 Million Bonuses to Lure OpenAI Staff, Says Sam Altman
- The New York Editorial Desk - Arif
- Jun 18
- 3 min read
CEO claims rival’s poaching attempt failed as Meta accelerates AI push
Tone & Political Bias: Center
Why: The reporting presents direct quotes from both sides, avoids ideological framing, and focuses on competitive dynamics in the tech sector.
Altman Claims Meta Offered $100M Signing Bonuses
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has publicly claimed that Meta, led by Mark Zuckerberg, has offered up to $100 million in signing bonuses to lure OpenAI employees. Altman made the comments during an episode of the “Uncapped” podcast hosted by his brother Jack.
“They started making giant offers to a lot of people on our team,” Altman said. “You know, like $100 million signing bonuses.”
According to Altman, the offers have so far been unsuccessful. “None of our best people have decided to take them up on that,” he said.
Meta declined to comment on the matter when contacted by reporters.
Meta’s Intensifying AI Push
The alleged poaching effort is the latest signal of Meta’s escalating efforts to compete in the artificial intelligence space. According to reports from Bloomberg and The New York Times, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has become personally involved in reshaping the company’s AI trajectory.
Zuckerberg is reportedly forming a new team to build machines capable of achieving “superintelligence,” a concept referring to AI systems that surpass human cognitive abilities. He has also been meeting with AI experts at his home and has reorganized Meta’s Menlo Park headquarters to place the new team closer to his own office.
$14.3 Billion Investment in Scale AI
Meta’s renewed focus on AI includes significant investments. Last week, the company announced a $14.3 billion deal to acquire a 49% stake in Scale AI. The investment is also intended to bring Scale AI’s founder and CEO, Alexandr Wang, and some of his team members into Meta’s fold.
This acquisition aligns with Meta’s strategy of accelerating its AI capabilities, especially in the wake of rapid progress from competitors like OpenAI. Wang, 28, has been widely recognized for his leadership in training large-scale AI models and building data infrastructure for advanced machine learning.
Altman Criticizes Meta’s Track Record
Altman did not hold back in critiquing Meta’s past efforts in AI. “Their current AI efforts have not worked as well as they have hoped, and I respect being aggressive and continuing to try new things,” he said on the podcast.
He added that while he respects several aspects of Meta, “I don’t think they’re a company that’s great at innovation. I think we understand a lot of things they don’t.”
His comments suggest not only confidence in OpenAI’s direction but also hint at the growing rivalry between the two companies as they compete for leadership in the next generation of artificial intelligence technologies.
Background: Growing Rivalry Since OpenAI’s Rise
OpenAI has emerged as a dominant player in the AI field, especially since the launch of ChatGPT and subsequent partnerships with Microsoft and other large corporations. The firm has raised tens of billions in funding and remains at the center of ongoing public and private discourse around generative AI.
Meanwhile, Meta has been repositioning itself to become an AI-first company following mixed results in the metaverse. The company has increased its infrastructure investments, reshuffled leadership, and launched new AI research initiatives.
Zuckerberg’s growing frustration with Meta’s AI pace reportedly led to more hands-on involvement, marking a shift in how the company is trying to compete with AI industry leaders.
Industry Implications
The alleged $100 million signing bonus offers underscore the high-stakes nature of talent competition in the AI industry. As top companies race to build more powerful models, the value of skilled engineers and researchers has soared.
While Meta continues its push to become an AI leader, OpenAI’s apparent retention of key personnel may solidify its current edge in the field, for now.
Comments