OpenAI has made headlines by attracting three founding members from Mira Murati’s AI startup, Thinking Machines, underscoring the fierce competition for AI talent. Barret Zoph, Luke Metz, and Sam Schoenholz are returning to OpenAI amidst reports of more researchers considering similar moves. This talent raid mirrors Meta’s aggressive hiring strategies, which previously involved offers of up to $200 million for AI experts. The departure of Zoph, triggered by allegations of “unethical conduct,” raises questions about the retention issues faced by Thinking Machines, despite its impressive $12 billion valuation. Though Thinking Machines has strong equity offerings, established tech giants like Google and Meta provide immediate cash incentives. OpenAI’s hiring spree has left Murati’s lab with severe talent depletion, having lost half its co-founders within a year. As IPO plans loom for OpenAI and Anthropic, employees face hard choices about immediate financial security versus long-term potential in startups.
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