OpenAI is reportedly rethinking how it pays its employees after several key team members left to join Meta. The rising competition for top artificial intelligence (AI) talent has caused concern within the San Francisco-based company.
A memo obtained by Wired revealed that OpenAI’s Chief Research Officer, Mark Chen, shared his disappointment over the recent exits in a message to staff on Saturday. He described the situation as feeling deeply personal, saying it was as if someone had “broken into our home and stolen something.”
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This message came after at least eight senior researchers left OpenAI in recent weeks to join Meta’s rapidly expanding AI team. Chen mentioned that he, along with CEO Sam Altman and other executives, have been working nonstop to speak with employees considering offers from other companies.
Chen also said that OpenAI is now reviewing its pay structure and looking at new ways to reward and keep its best talent, signaling a major shift in strategy to compete with tech giants like Meta.
Meta’s aggressive push to hire top AI experts has become a hot topic in the industry. Altman previously claimed on a podcast that Meta was offering signing bonuses of up to $100 million to attract OpenAI employees, though Meta insiders have denied this.
Salaries in Silicon Valley’s AI field have been increasing quickly, especially with the growing demand for talent in advanced research and generative AI.
Meta, which has been heavily investing in its LLaMA open-source model and AI research group, is drawing scientists from rival firms with not just big paychecks but also the promise of more academic freedom.
OpenAI, once a leading force in generative AI with tools like ChatGPT and GPT-4, is now facing questions about its leadership, internal communication, and the balance between its profit-making goals and scientific values. Some researchers have raised concerns over whether the company is staying true to its original mission.
The recent departures are a turning point for OpenAI, which must now work harder to stay competitive while also managing internal changes in culture and compensation.
Chen ended his message by reaffirming OpenAI’s goals and encouraged employees to support one another during this challenging time. He made it clear that the leadership team is actively working on solutions and not just watching from the sidelines.
