Mark Zuckerberg's billion-dollar AI bids fail to lure talent from Mira Murati's Thinking Machines lab
OpenAI's rapid growth occurs amid intense pressure to retain its top-tier AI talent. Rival Meta has reportedly poached at least eight OpenAI employees this year and is aggressively recruiting for its own 'Superintelligence' lab, offering highly competitive compensation packages.
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Mark Zuckerberg's ambitious quest to assemble a world-class AI "dream team" for Meta's recently launched Superintelligence Lab has hit an unexpected snag. Despite making jaw-dropping, billion-dollar offers to top researchers at Thinking Machines Lab, the burgeoning AI startup led by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, not a single individual has accepted Meta's lucrative proposals.
According to reports, Meta extended astronomical compensation packages, with one researcher reportedly offered a staggering $1 billion over multiple years. Other offers ranged between $200 million and $500 million, set to vest over four years.
However, sources quoted in the Wired report plainly state, "So far at Thinking Machines Lab, not a single person has taken the offer." This unified rejection of such unprecedented financial incentives has sent ripples through the tech industry, where high-stakes talent acquisition is common.
Thinking Machines Lab, founded by Murati after her departure from OpenAI, has rapidly emerged as a highly anticipated player in the AI landscape. The company has already secured funding at an astonishing $12 billion valuation, despite not yet having launched a product. This remarkable valuation underscores the immense confidence the tech world places in Murati's leadership and strategic vision.
Many industry observers believe that Murati's compelling long-term vision and leadership are key factors in her team's decision to remain cohesive. In an industry where enormous paychecks often dictate career moves, this collective stance highlights a growing trend where mission and leadership may be valued above even the most exorbitant financial enticements.
San Francisco, CA – Mark Zuckerberg's ambitious quest to assemble a world-class AI "dream team" for Meta's recently launched Superintelligence Lab has hit an unexpected snag. Despite making jaw-dropping, billion-dollar offers to top researchers at Thinking Machines Lab, the burgeoning AI startup led by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, not a single individual has accepted Meta's lucrative proposals.
According to a new report in Wired, Meta extended astronomical compensation packages, with one researcher reportedly offered a staggering $1 billion over multiple years. Other offers ranged between $200 million and $500 million, set to vest over four years.
However, sources quoted in the Wired report plainly state, "So far at Thinking Machines Lab, not a single person has taken the offer." This unified rejection of such unprecedented financial incentives has sent ripples through the tech industry, where high-stakes talent acquisition is common.
Thinking Machines Lab, founded by Murati after her departure from OpenAI, has rapidly emerged as a highly anticipated player in the AI landscape. The company has already secured funding at an astonishing $12 billion valuation, despite not yet having launched a product. This remarkable valuation underscores the immense confidence the tech world places in Murati's leadership and strategic vision.
Many industry observers believe that Murati's compelling long-term vision and leadership are key factors in her team's decision to remain cohesive. In an industry where enormous paychecks often dictate career moves, this collective stance highlights a growing trend where mission and leadership may be valued above even the most exorbitant financial enticements.
