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Meta Recruits Top OpenAI Scientists as Competition Heats Up

By  |  June 26, 2025

Meta has reportedly expanded its artificial intelligence division by recruiting three prominent researchers from OpenAI, the company behind the widely known ChatGPT, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. The move comes shortly after OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman publicly accused Meta of attempting to lure away its talent with substantial financial incentives.

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    Per Reuters, the new additions to Meta’s so-called “superintelligence” team include Lucas Beyer, Alexander Kolesnikov, and Xiaohua Zhai, all of whom were previously part of OpenAI’s Zurich office. This strategic recruitment aligns with Meta’s broader push to accelerate its development of advanced AI technologies, including efforts toward artificial general intelligence (AGI).

    Last week, Altman revealed that Meta had offered bonuses totaling around $100 million in an effort to entice OpenAI staff to jump ship. The rivalry between the two AI giants has intensified as Meta, once considered a frontrunner in open-source AI initiatives, has faced setbacks including employee departures and delays in launching competitive open-source AI models.

    Read more: Tensions Rise as Microsoft Considers Ending OpenAI Negotiations

    According to Reuters, these challenges have hampered Meta’s ability to keep pace with competitors like Google and China’s DeepSeek, both of which continue to advance rapidly in the AI space. Altman previously noted that Meta views OpenAI as its primary competitor in this arena.

    In addition to these hires, Meta has also brought on Alexandr Wang, the 28-year-old CEO of Scale AI, who will contribute to its ambitious AI projects. The company recently acquired a 49% stake in Scale AI for $14.3 billion, underscoring its commitment to building cutting-edge AI capabilities.

    These developments suggest Meta is attempting to reposition itself as a serious contender in the race for AGI, assembling a team of experts to drive innovation forward.

    Source: Reuters