Meta Recruits Leading AI Experts from OpenAI, Google, Industry-Wide

Meta has aggressively escalated its AI talent recruitment, sparking significant moves of top researchers from rivals like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has spearheaded this effort by creating a Superintelligence Lab staffed entirely by immigrant experts with global academic backgrounds, signaling Meta's commitment to leading AI innovation despite concerns about internal culture and retention. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman publicly criticized Meta's recruitment tactics as "distasteful," warning of deep cultural issues, while notable defections such as Daniel Gross, former CEO of Safe Superintelligence launched by OpenAI's cofounder, highlight the intensity of the talent war. Meta's strategy includes lavish signing bonuses reportedly up to $300 million over four years, reflecting the high stakes as companies vie for dominance in the rapidly advancing AI field. Despite some internal turmoil and skepticism over Meta's approach, Zuckerberg frames this as the start of a new era of AI with the company fully committed to leading the development of superintelligence. The competition underscores the critical role of AI creators amid widespread concerns about job security in the AI era and the strategic importance of attracting and retaining world-class talent.