Despite a recent delay in the rollout of its flagship AI model, Behemoth, Meta is paradoxically accelerating its AI talent poaching efforts, reportedly offering up to $100 million to top engineers and researchers. This aggressive recruitment drive, personally led by Mark Zuckerberg, reveals Meta’s urgent desire to catch up and dominate in the artificial intelligence space, even as questions linger about its internal AI development.
For months, Zuckerberg has been quietly assembling a “secret list” of elite AI talent from across the globe, with a focus on individuals currently employed by competitors like OpenAI and Google’s DeepMind. His hands-on approach, including direct outreach, underscores the critical importance Meta places on securing these coveted minds to propel its AI initiatives forward. The move follows a $14 billion investment in Scale AI.
The extravagant compensation packages have drawn sharp criticism, with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman publicly calling the rumored offers “crazy.” Altman expressed concerns that a singular focus on guaranteed upfront pay, rather than the intrinsic value of the work or a shared mission, could negatively impact company culture. This debate highlights the different philosophies guiding talent acquisition in the AI sector.
Meta’s strategy presents a fascinating paradox: a setback in product development met with an intensified, high-cost talent acquisition spree. This suggests a deep-seated commitment to building a formidable AI division through external recruitment, aiming for a “transfusion from the country’s top AI labs” to overcome any internal hurdles and ultimately achieve AI dominance.