OpenAI to adjust salary and reward employees after Meta's Talent Spree
As Meta intensifies its efforts to build a superintelligence lab, OpenAI is facing a challenge with several senior staff members leaving to join Meta. In recent weeks, at least eight high-profile scientists, including Lucas Beyer, Alexander Kolesnikov, and Xiaohua Zhai, have departed OpenAI to work at Meta. Additionally, Trapit Bansal, Shengjia Zhao, Jiahui Yu, Shuchao Bi, and Hongyu Ren have also made the move to Meta.
In response to these departures, OpenAI's leadership has launched an urgent internal campaign to reassure the remaining staff and protect the company's culture. Chief Research Officer Mark Chen expressed his concern in an internal memo, comparing the departures to a personal violation and emphasizing that the company has been actively addressing the situation.
Recalibrating Compensation and Recognizing Talent
Mark Chen, along with CEO Sam Altman and other senior leaders, has been working tirelessly to speak with staff members who have received competing offers. They are adjusting compensation packages and exploring creative ways to acknowledge and reward top talent while maintaining fairness throughout the process.
The context for this internal effort stems from Meta's aggressive hiring tactics. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been personally involved in recruiting AI talent, targeting professionals from companies like OpenAI and Google. Reports from various sources including The Wall Street Journal, The Information, and TechCrunch have highlighted the influx of departures from OpenAI to Meta, fueling discussions around Meta's recruitment strategy.
Response to Signing Bonus Claims
During a podcast, Sam Altman mentioned that Meta was offering signing bonuses of up to $100 million to some recruits, a claim that Meta has refuted internally. Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth dismissed the claim as misleading, clarifying that only a select few individuals might receive such large packages, and not as a lump sum bonus as suggested.
Despite the denial from Meta, individuals like Beyer, Kolesnikov, and Zhai confirmed their move to Meta on X, formerly Twitter, while debunking the $100 million rumor as "fake news."
Efforts to Retain Talent
OpenAI's leaders are actively working to prevent further attrition. Chen's message to staff included words of encouragement from seven other research team members, urging them not to feel pressured by competitive offers and to seek support when needed. There is a concern that Meta may take advantage of OpenAI's upcoming break to pressure employees into making isolated decisions.
Despite the challenging situation, OpenAI is granting its staff a week off to recuperate from the demanding workload. Company executives have assured employees of their availability during this break to provide support.
Staying Focused on the Mission
Mark Chen emphasized the importance of staying true to OpenAI's mission and avoiding distractions from short-term competitions. He stressed the significance of focusing on the ultimate goal of advancing intelligence through computation, describing conflicts with Meta as mere side quests.
In response to Chen's leadership, CEO Sam Altman expressed gratitude for his handling of the situation and tough decisions, highlighting Chen's integrity and leadership during this challenging period.
