Meta Offers $100M Bonuses to Lure OpenAI Talent, Says Sam Altman

Meta is aggressively pursuing top AI talent, reportedly offering massive bonuses to OpenAI employees. According to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Meta has proposed signing bonuses of $100 million or more to lure top engineers, amid a heated race for artificial intelligence dominance.

Altman revealed the offers during an episode of the Uncapped podcast, hosted by his brother. He stated, “They started making giant offers to a lot of people on our team. At least, so far, none of our best people have decided to take them up on that.” He also noted that Meta appears to view OpenAI as its biggest competitor.

This revelation highlights the intense competition for elite AI researchers, who are now being courted with packages comparable to those of professional athletes. AI experts are seen as pivotal to advancing next-gen models that could define the future of technology.

Meta's hiring push follows its recent $14.3 billion investment in Scale AI, a prominent data-labeling company. Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang has also been tapped to lead Meta’s new superintelligence division, further signaling the company’s commitment to scaling up its AI efforts.

Despite its early lead in open-source AI, Meta has struggled recently with high-profile staff departures and delays in launching competitive models. Meanwhile, rivals like OpenAI, Google, and China’s DeepSeek continue to push the boundaries of AI development.

Meta declined to comment on the recruitment claims, and the offers remain unverified. However, Altman’s comments underscore a growing arms race in AI, where top talent is the most valuable asset.

This AI talent war is reshaping the tech landscape as companies invest billions to secure the brightest minds in artificial intelligence.