Meta is on a hiring spree for its AI dream team — but OpenAI’s top talent isn’t budging.
That’s the message from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who recently confirmed reports that Meta has been offering massive pay packages — up to $100 million — to poach AI researchers from rivals like OpenAI and Google DeepMind.
In a candid podcast conversation with his brother, Jack Altman, the OpenAI boss said those offers haven’t worked — and he doesn’t expect them to.
Meta’s Big Bet: $100M for Top AI Talent
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is going all-in on AI. He’s building a new superintelligence team, led by former Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang, and wants the best minds in the industry to join.
To make that happen, Meta has reportedly made eye-watering offers to top AI researchers. These packages include:
- $100 million signing bonuses
- Annual compensation far exceeding industry norms
- Positions close to Zuckerberg himself, both physically and strategically
But according to Altman, the money alone hasn’t been enough.
Altman: “None of Our Best People Took the Bait”
On the podcast, Sam Altman said OpenAI employees have been approached with these offers — but they’ve stayed put.
“They started making these giant offers to a lot of people on our team,” Altman shared.
“I’m really happy that, so far, none of our best people have taken them up.”
Why are they staying? According to Altman, OpenAI’s mission matters more than money.
He believes his team sees OpenAI as having a better shot at building AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) — and a more meaningful path to long-term success.
OpenAI vs. Meta: A Clash of Culture and Purpose
Altman also took a subtle jab at Meta’s company culture.
He said that while Meta is focusing heavily on compensation, OpenAI is focusing on purpose and innovation.
“I don’t think they’re a company that’s great at innovation,” Altman said.
“I respect Meta, but just throwing money at the problem doesn’t always work.”
In his view, teams driven by mission and vision — not just paycheck size — are more likely to build breakthrough technologies.
Failed Poaching Attempts So Far
Meta’s push to build its AI dream team hasn’t been smooth. According to reports:
- Meta tried to recruit Noam Brown, a top OpenAI researcher
- It also attempted to lure Koray Kavukcuoglu, a leading AI engineer at Google DeepMind
Both turned down Meta’s offers.
Still, Meta has had some wins. It reportedly hired:
- Jack Rae from Google DeepMind
- Johan Schalkwyk from Sesame AI
And just last week, Meta invested heavily in Scale AI, the company Wang once led.
The Race for AI Superintelligence Is Heating Up
OpenAI, Meta, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic are all racing to build the next big thing in AI.
Altman believes OpenAI still leads that race — especially with its culture of innovation and deep technical talent.
He also hinted at a major upcoming release from OpenAI: an open AI model that could widen the gap between his company and the rest.
Meanwhile, Meta is still working on catching up.
A Glimpse at AI-Powered Social Media?
Toward the end of the podcast, Altman shared an intriguing idea.
He said he’s interested in exploring a new kind of social media platform, powered by AI, where users get custom feeds based on what they actually want — not what the algorithm pushes.
This comes as Meta experiments with similar tech in its Meta AI app, which some users have found confusing and too personal.
Could OpenAI enter the social media space next? Altman didn’t confirm it — but he didn’t rule it out either.
Summary: Key Takeaways
- Meta has offered $100M+ to poach OpenAI and DeepMind staff — with little success
- Sam Altman says OpenAI’s top people are staying put, motivated by mission over money
- Meta’s hiring culture is compensation-heavy, while OpenAI leans into purpose and innovation
- Meta failed to recruit Noam Brown and Koray Kavukcuoglu but did hire other notable names
- OpenAI may be working on an AI-powered social app, potentially rivaling Meta’s offerings
- The battle for AI superintelligence leadership is far from over
Final Thought
The AI world is getting more competitive — and expensive.
As Meta throws money at the problem, OpenAI is betting that vision, mission, and culture are more powerful than a fat paycheck. Only time will tell which approach wins, but one thing is certain:
The AI talent war has officially begun.