Meta Recruits Three OpenAI Researchers for Superintelligence Ambitions
In a bold move signalling its deepening commitment to artificial general intelligence (AGI), Meta Platforms Inc. has hired three top researchers from OpenAI, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. The hires follow CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s efforts to accelerate Meta’s superintelligence initiative, even as competition with OpenAI and other tech giants heats up.
Who Did Meta Hire from OpenAI?
The three researchers, Lucas Beyer, Alexander Kolesnikov, and Xiaohua Zhai, previously worked at OpenAI’s Zurich office and are highly regarded in the machine learning and computer vision fields. Their recruitment represents a strategic win for Meta’s growing AI division, which has seen recent turbulence amid leadership shifts and delayed open-source model rollouts.
While Meta has not yet issued an official statement, an OpenAI spokesperson confirmed the researchers’ departure but declined to comment further.
Sam Altman Accuses Meta of Offering $100M Bonuses
The new hires come just days after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman accused Meta of aggressively trying to poach its top talent by offering bonuses as high as $100 million. “I’ve heard that Meta thinks of us as their biggest competitor,” Altman said, underscoring the intensity of the AI talent war between Silicon Valley’s most powerful companies.
Meta Ramps Up AGI Efforts with Scale AI Deal
These recruitments are part of a broader effort by Meta to assert dominance in next-gen AI. The company recently hired Alexandr Wang, the 28-year-old founder and CEO of Scale AI, to help lead its superintelligence division. In addition, Meta took a 49% stake in Scale AI, reportedly worth $14.3 billion, further signalling its long-term vision for AGI development.
Meta, once a leader in open-source AI, has lost momentum due to internal challenges and growing competition from Google DeepMind, OpenAI, and China’s DeepSeek. This renewed talent strategy may mark a pivotal moment in Zuckerberg’s AI turnaround plan.
Meta vs OpenAI: The Race to AGI Intensifies
As Meta strengthens its AI research and superintelligence capabilities, its rivalry with OpenAI is escalating. With key hires, massive investments, and a shift toward high-impact AGI goals, Meta is positioning itself as a serious contender in the future of artificial intelligence. Whether these moves will help Meta close the innovation gap remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the AI talent war is far from over.
