Meta has successfully recruited three top AI researchers, Lucas Beyer, Alexander Kolesnikov, and Xiaohua Zhai, from OpenAI’s Zurich office, in a major move that signals intensifying competition for talent in the artificial intelligence space. All three scientists previously worked at Google DeepMind and were instrumental in helping OpenAI establish its European operations. Their departure marks a significant shift in expertise at a time when AI labs are fiercely competing to lead the next phase of innovation.
This strategic hire is part of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s broader effort to strengthen Meta’s AI division following criticism of its flagship model’s performance earlier this year. Meta is not only rebuilding its AI leadership but is reportedly doing so with massive incentives; some compensation packages are said to exceed $100 million. These offers are aimed at forming a new team focused on building “superintelligence,” a long-term vision Meta is now aggressively investing in. The company has also pledged to spend up to $65 billion on AI infrastructure this year alone.
In response, OpenAI has begun matching or even outbidding such offers in a bid to retain its remaining top talent. CEO Sam Altman, while acknowledging the risk of losing key staff, called Meta’s tactics “crazy” and insisted that the majority of OpenAI’s core research team remains intact. Still, the pressure is mounting, as leading AI researchers have become a rare and highly sought-after group, with only a few hundred globally recognised experts operating at the highest level.
The recruitment battle between Meta and OpenAI is just one example of a much larger trend across the AI industry. Other major players like Anthropic and Google DeepMind are also racing to attract elite talent, recognising that the pace of innovation and ultimately market leadership depends heavily on who can build and retain the best teams. While high salaries are one part of the equation, company culture, mission alignment, and long-term vision are proving equally important in this fight for minds.
This latest move by Meta is a clear signal that the future of AI will not be determined by hardware alone, but by the people building the models. As companies like Meta and OpenAI continue to define their strategies, the competition is no longer just about who has the most computing power, but about who can inspire the brightest researchers to stay, build, and lead. The next wave of AI breakthroughs may well depend on which teams are able to combine deep scientific talent with meaningful purpose.
