Key Takeaways:
- Meta is offering large multi-year compensation packages, not $100 million signing bonuses.
- High-profile AI researchers like Lucas Beyer and Trapit Bansal have joined Meta, confirming its appeal.
- The AI talent war is intense, with even $1M8M offers being turned down for buzzy new startups.
Meta is doubling down on AI hiring with eye-popping compensation packages—but not quite to the tune of a $100 million “sign-on bonus,” despite industry rumors. The tech giant has clarified that while it’s spending big to recruit top talent, especially from competitors like OpenAI, reports of massive upfront bonuses have been exaggerated.
Bosworth Dispels $100M Bonus Claim
During an all-hands meeting leaked to The Verge, Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth addressed recent claims by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman suggesting Meta was offering $100 million signing packages. Bosworth explained that such numbers were likely tied to total compensation over several years—mainly stock-based and performance-related—not cash-in-hand sign-ons.
“Look, you guys, the market’s hot. It’s not that hot,” Bosworth said, emphasizing that only a few senior leaders could command packages worth that much over time.
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OpenAI Researchers Join Meta—But Deny Bonus Hype
Researcher Lucas Beyer, who recently left OpenAI to join Meta along with two others from the Zurich office, confirmed on social media that the $100 million signing bonus rumor was “fake news.” While he didn’t disclose terms, Beyer made it clear the figures being thrown around were misleading.
Beyer specializes in computer vision—an area of focus for Meta, which is prioritizing entertainment-related AI applications like VR, AR, and smart eyewear over productivity tools.
AI War Escalates: Meta, OpenAI, and New Players
Meta’s aggressive talent acquisition continues as it hires notable figures like Trapit Bansal, known for his AI reasoning work at OpenAI. The company is also investing in firms like Scale AI, where co-founder Alexandr Wang could walk away with more than $100 million due to Meta’s $14 billion investment.
But Meta isn’t winning every battle. One investor told TechCrunch that a researcher declined Meta’s $18 million offer to join Thinking Machines Lab, the new venture from Mira Murati—another sign that the hottest AI talent is weighing more than just money.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The author’s views are personal and may not reflect the views of GameDegen.com. Before making any investment decisions, you should always conduct your own research. GameDegen.com is not responsible for any financial losses.
