From OpenAI to Meta: Trapit Bansal Enhances AI Team

Published On Fri Jun 27 2025
From OpenAI to Meta: Trapit Bansal Enhances AI Team

Meta Hires Top OpenAI Researcher to Boost AI Reasoning Team

Meta has brought on board Trapit Bansal, a former OpenAI researcher, to join its newly established AI superintelligence division. Bansal, known for his work on reinforcement learning projects at OpenAI, will be a valuable addition to Meta's team.

Having departed from OpenAI in June, Bansal was a key figure in the early advancements of AI reasoning at the company. He collaborated closely with co-founder Ilya Sutskever and played a significant role in developing OpenAI's initial reasoning model, o1. His expertise and experience will now contribute to Meta's efforts to create a cutting-edge AI reasoning model to rival those of OpenAI and DeepSeek.

Building a Strong Team

Meta has been actively assembling a team of top-tier AI talent, with Bansal joining former Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang and ex-Google DeepMind researcher Jack Rae. Additionally, the team includes individuals such as Nat Friedman, Daniel Gross, and former OpenAI members Lucas Beyer, Alexander Kolesnikov, and Xiaohua Zhai, as well as Johan Schalkwyk, formerly of Sesame.

Trapit Bansal

Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, has been personally involved in recruiting leading AI experts, offering lucrative compensation packages to attract top researchers. While specific details of Bansal's agreement with Meta remain undisclosed, it is evident that Meta is committed to establishing itself as a frontrunner in the field of AI.

Advancing in AI Reasoning

AI reasoning models are seen as the next frontier in artificial intelligence, enabling systems to analyze complex problems before providing solutions. These models, which require advanced computing capabilities and increased processing time, offer enhanced accuracy and performance across various applications.

Large Reasoning Models: The AI That Solves Problems Like a Human

Meta aims to incorporate state-of-the-art AI reasoning models across its product range, from virtual assistants to business tools. Clara Shih, a former Salesforce executive, is spearheading Meta's AI agent initiative, which will leverage breakthroughs from the company's AI research team.

Competing in the AI Landscape

As Meta intensifies its focus on artificial superintelligence, it faces stiff competition from established players like OpenAI, Google, and DeepSeek. The race to develop superior AI reasoning models underscores Meta's ambition to lead the evolution of intelligent systems.

While Meta strives to launch a public reasoning model that can rival industry leaders, OpenAI is also gearing up to unveil its own AI reasoning model. This dynamic landscape underscores the fierce competition and rapid advancements in the field of AI.

Meta AI talent acquisition: Meet Trapit Bansal, Meta's new AI ...

Meta's strategic recruitment of top researchers like Trapit Bansal underscores its commitment to innovation and excellence in AI development. As the company works towards unveiling its advanced reasoning model, the industry eagerly awaits the impact of Meta's entry into the realm of AI superintelligence.