In a surprising turn in the global AI talent race, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has revealed that Meta formerly Facebook tried to lure some of OpenAI’s top engineers and researchers by offering them massive bonuses reportedly up to $100 million. This jaw-dropping figure shows how aggressive big tech companies are becoming in their competition for the brightest minds in artificial intelligence.
According to Altman, several employees at OpenAI were approached directly with promises of enormous signing packages, stock options, and salaries. However, despite the money, none of the core team members at OpenAI accepted Meta’s offers. Altman praised their loyalty and commitment to OpenAI’s mission, stating that “not a single one” left.
The Intense Fight for AI Talent
The artificial intelligence industry has become one of the most competitive fields in technology. With the rapid rise of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Meta’s LLaMA, companies are now rushing to hire the top experts. These professionals who include researchers, engineers, and developers are in short supply, which has caused their market value to skyrocket.
What makes this case unusual is not just the size of the bonuses, but the method. Some reports say Meta approached OpenAI staff without requiring interviews or standard hiring processes, simply making offers based on their experience and track record. This has sparked debate within the tech community about ethics, loyalty, and how far companies should go to win talent.
Altman Criticizes Meta’s Strategy
Sam Altman did not hold back in his criticism of Meta’s approach. He argued that offering massive paychecks is not a sustainable way to build innovation or trust. “You can’t buy breakthroughs with money alone,” he reportedly said in internal meetings. According to him, culture, mission, and a sense of purpose matter more than the size of a paycheck.
Altman compared Meta’s tactics to sports teams trying to sign star players during a transfer window, but warned that innovation in AI isn’t something that can simply be transferred with contracts. He emphasized that OpenAI’s team was built on long-term values and a shared goal to develop safe, responsible AI.
Why OpenAI Employees Stayed
Despite the temptation of large bonuses, the majority of OpenAI employees chose to stay. This decision shows that their belief in OpenAI’s mission to ensure artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity—is stronger than any financial offer. Many of the team members have been with the company through difficult times and played key roles in developing tools like ChatGPT.
Employees have also spoken about the company’s internal environment, which encourages experimentation, collaboration, and a clear ethical focus. These values are not easy to replace, and some insiders believe that Meta, despite its resources, cannot easily recreate the same atmosphere.
Meta’s Push into AI
Meta’s efforts are part of a larger plan to become a leader in AI, especially after falling behind in recent years. While the company has launched its own AI models, they have not gained the same popularity or trust as those developed by OpenAI. This has led to increased investment, faster hiring, and more aggressive recruitment strategies.
The company is also building a separate team to focus on what it calls “artificial superintelligence”—a future form of AI that could outperform humans in nearly every task. To build such a system, Meta clearly wants the best minds, and OpenAI’s team is widely considered among the most talented.
Challenges on AI
This story shows just how valuable AI researchers have become in the tech industry. It also highlights a growing divide in how companies build their teamssome relying on money, others relying on mission and culture. As AI becomes more powerful, the people who build it will shape not just the technology, but the ethics and direction of the entire field.
For now, OpenAI has kept its team intact. But the AI talent war is far from over. With billions of dollars at stake, and the race for advanced AI systems heating up, similar attempts from other companies are likely to continue.
Summary of OpenAI News
The recent revelation about Meta’s attempt to poach OpenAI employees with $100 million bonuses reveals much about the high-stakes world of artificial intelligence. While the money may be tempting, this situation shows that purpose, trust, and shared values still matter. Sam Altman’s calm but firm response highlights how OpenAI is positioning itself not just as a leader in technology, but as a company with principles.
In the long run, this battle isn’t just about hiring. It’s about building the future of AI responsibly. And the teams who win that race may not be the ones with the deepest pockets but the ones with the strongest purpose.
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