OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Claims Meta Offering $100 Million Plus to Lure His Team
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has revealed that some of his top employees have been targeted by rival tech giant Meta with “giant offers,” including signing bonuses reportedly reaching $100 million (£74.3 million).
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has been aggressively expanding its artificial intelligence (AI) efforts. Recently, it invested $14 billion (£10.4 billion) to acquire a 49% stake in AI startup Scale AI as part of its strategy to strengthen its AI division.
Despite these lucrative offers, Altman said that, “at least so far,” none of OpenAI’s key talent have accepted Meta’s advances. The BBC has reached out to Meta for comment.
Industry analyst Indranil Bandyopadhyay of Forrester highlighted that such massive payouts reflect the tech sector’s recognition of the crucial role elite AI researchers and engineers play in gaining a competitive edge. “Talent acquisition is a high-risk, high-reward gamble,” he said, adding that while such heavy investment in AI is intense, the “AI gold rush” continues at a rapid pace with talent as the most coveted asset.
Speaking on a podcast hosted by his brother Jack Altman, Sam credited OpenAI’s “really special culture” and clear mission to build superintelligence as key reasons why his team remains loyal, despite Meta’s financial incentives. He suggested that the promise of meaningful “economic awards” from the company’s work also plays a part.
OpenAI, along with other AI firms, is focused on advancing artificial general intelligence (AGI) – AI capable of human-level performance – and ultimately superintelligence, where AI surpasses human cognitive abilities by a wide margin.
Altman also took a swipe at Meta’s innovation track record, stating, “I don’t think they’re a company that’s great at innovation,” while acknowledging Meta’s aggressive competition.
Tech companies are pouring vast sums into AI research. Earlier this year, OpenAI announced plans with partners to invest $500 billion in new data centers across the U.S. to support AI development.
Edward Keelan, a partner at UK-based venture fund Octopus Ventures, commented that the scale of investment reflects a belief in AI’s transformative potential across industries. “The very top talent has the potential to define the future of AI models and infrastructure, and can attract extraordinary offers as a result,” he noted.
Altman’s candid remarks come amid ongoing public sparring among major tech leaders, often aired on podcasts. For example, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg praised Apple’s iPhone on Joe Rogan’s show but criticized Apple’s recent lack of innovation. Meanwhile, Zuckerberg’s feud with Elon Musk has included heated exchanges and even a proposed cage fight.
In addition, Musk is currently involved in a legal dispute with Sam Altman concerning OpenAI’s founding.
As the AI race intensifies, the battle for top talent appears to be just as fierce as the technology itself.
