OpenAI is reportedly reviewing its staff compensation structure after Meta successfully hired at least eight of its researchers in recent weeks. In a message shared with employees, Chief Research Officer Mark Chen said the leadership team has not been passive during the talent exodus. “I feel a visceral feeling right now, as if someone has broken into our home and stolen something,” he wrote in an internal Slack message. The comment reflects growing frustration within OpenAI as Meta continues to expand its superintelligence lab by attracting top talent.
According to Chen, OpenAI executives, including CEO Sam Altman, have been working intensely behind the scenes, reaching out to staff with offers on the table and seeking to reinforce loyalty. He said the company is actively “recalibrating compensation” and considering new ways to reward and retain its top researchers. This includes financial adjustments and other recognition strategies aimed at keeping remaining talent from leaving for competitors.
The context behind this urgency is Meta’s recent hiring spree, which saw researchers like Trapit Bansal, Shengjia Zhao, and others join its AI efforts. These individuals bring valuable knowledge from their work on major OpenAI models. The departures have raised internal concerns not just about losing skill, but also about how quickly Meta seems to be closing the gap in AI capability. The issue is not only technical, it’s also symbolic of a shift in confidence and workplace culture.
In public remarks, Sam Altman has expressed frustration, noting on a podcast that Meta had offered signing bonuses as high as $100 million. Meta executives have since downplayed that number, calling it an oversimplification. Instead, they described the offers as part of tailored compensation packages that combine salary, equity, and long-term incentives. Still, the number itself sparked headlines and reinforced how intense the fight for elite AI talent has become.
Behind these moves is a larger story unfolding in the AI space. As models become more powerful, companies are increasingly defined by the researchers they can attract and retain. OpenAI’s response to Meta’s hiring tactics may help it hold onto key team members, but it also highlights how fragile leadership in artificial intelligence can be. The pressure to keep the best minds is growing, and the race for talent is just beginning.
