A new storm erupted in the world of artificial intelligence this week, as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman claimed that Meta, led by Mark Zuckerberg, attempted to recruit senior members of OpenAI’s development team by offering massive signing bonuses of up to $100 million. The revelation highlights the fierce competition between the two leading companies in the field, and the enormous investments Meta is pouring into its pursuit of general artificial intelligence.

A Battle of Minds Between Tech Giants

In an interview on “Uncapped,” the podcast hosted by his brother, Jack Altman, Sam Altman stated that several OpenAI employees received direct offers from Meta—featuring astronomical compensation packages that included $100 million in signing bonuses and multi-million-dollar annual salaries. According to Altman, some of these outreach efforts were personally led by Mark Zuckerberg and involved private meetings with top candidates, aimed at bringing them into Meta’s new division focused on artificial general intelligence.

The disclosure follows Meta’s recent $14 billion investment in a partnership with Scale AI, appointing 22-year-old Alexandr Wang as the head of its AI efforts—a move that clearly signals Meta’s intent to close the gap with OpenAI and reassert its leadership in a future dominated by artificial intelligence.

Not a Single OpenAI Team Member Left — Loyalty Over Money

Despite the unprecedented offers, Altman emphasized that none of OpenAI’s senior staff have left the company. He attributes this to more than personal loyalty—it’s about a deep sense of mission and a belief that OpenAI is currently leading the field, taking the most responsible and strategic path toward safe and effective development of general AI.

Altman voiced clear concerns about Meta’s compensation-heavy model, suggesting it may be problematic in the long run. He argued that such financial strategies could damage internal culture, set unsustainable expectations, and lead to burnout or quick turnover. At OpenAI, he explained, engineer salaries range from approximately $238,000 to just over $1.5 million—with a focus on values and long-term impact over immediate financial reward.

Human Real Estate: Top AI Talent Is Treated Like Sports Superstars

Within the AI community, top researchers are viewed as “human real estate”—an extremely limited pool of global experts, estimated at fewer than a thousand individuals. It’s no surprise, then, that companies are willing to spend millions to attract them. Industry insiders report that recruitment today hinges not only on salary, but also on access to computing power—specifically, large clusters of NVIDIA H100 GPUs, which have become a scarce and highly coveted resource.

Meta’s current business model aims to build a super-unit free from traditional corporate constraints, with a singular focus on breakthrough AI innovation. In this sense, its recruitment strategies resemble those of major sports teams—offering contracts on par with NBA or MLB stars. The result is a new era of competition in the tech industry, where the primary battlefield is no longer just products, but the people behind them.

Meta’s Push to Catch Up with OpenAI

Meta’s recent moves reflect not only an expansionist approach to AI, but also a sense of urgency. The company has lagged in launching next-generation models like GPT-4, faced criticism for the performance of its Llama 4 model, and lost several top researchers. Now, Zuckerberg appears to be shifting direction—seeking to rebuild Meta’s AI credibility through a younger, high-powered team.

Meanwhile, OpenAI continues on a steady course, grounded in a clear mission and a strong internal culture. Its approach is cautious yet consistent, with a focus on AI safety and a conservative rollout of advanced technologies. The company’s message remains that sustainable innovation comes not from big checks, but from conviction, collaboration, and thoughtful progress.

An Open Question: Will Culture or Cash Win the Race?

This latest revelation highlights one of the biggest questions currently facing Silicon Valley: Does technological innovation require mission-driven culture and careful stewardship, or is financial firepower the real key to unlocking breakthroughs? Investors and engineers alike are watching closely to determine the answer. Will Meta’s deep pockets win over talent, or will OpenAI’s values and sense of purpose continue to serve as a strong anchor?

As long as OpenAI’s top minds choose to stay and work out of conviction rather than cash, it appears the answer leans toward the latter. However, as the race intensifies, even OpenAI may eventually need to re-evaluate its compensation model to remain competitive—and retain the talent that fuels its success.