OpenAI CEO Claims Meta Offered $100M Bonuses to Poach Talent

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed that Meta has aggressively attempted to recruit OpenAI employees by offering signing bonuses up to $100 million, along with other lucrative perks, as part of its strategy to expand its AI capabilities. Despite these massive offers, Altman stated that none of OpenAI's top talent have accepted Meta's proposals, attributing their loyalty to OpenAI's mission and potential leadership in artificial general intelligence. Meta's recruitment drive, including hiring former Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang, underscores its view of OpenAI as its primary rival in the AI race. Altman expressed skepticism about Meta's approach, suggesting that relying heavily on upfront financial incentives may not foster a strong company culture or innovation. He also acknowledged respect for Meta but questioned its ability to innovate effectively compared to OpenAI. Additionally, Meta has targeted not only OpenAI staff but also Google DeepMind employees, although it is unclear if any have switched over.