The rapid pace of artificial intelligence development has intensified the global race for talent, and OpenAI is stepping up its efforts. Joaquin Quiñonero Candela, now leading the company’s recruiting team, described the urgency of the moment in a recent LinkedIn post. He likened OpenAI’s growth phase to a rocket under extreme pressure, saying the company is “in uncharted waters” and facing “unprecedented pressure to grow.” For Candela, hiring is no longer just important; it is central to OpenAI’s future.
This push comes as competition among AI firms intensifies. OpenAI is battling rivals like Meta, Anthropic, and Alphabet to attract top engineers and researchers. Meta recently made headlines with a $14 billion investment in Scale AI, bringing the startup’s CEO Alexandr Wang into its ranks. These moves reflect how talent has become a key differentiator in the race to build the next generation of AI systems, and OpenAI is unwilling to fall behind.
The company has already recruited several high-profile leaders. In recent months, it appointed Instacart CEO Fidji Simo to lead its applications division and acquired Jony Ive’s AI hardware startup for $6.4 billion. The firm also brought on Sarah Friar, the former CEO of Nextdoor and CFO at Square, to serve as its chief financial officer. These hires are not just about filling roles; they reflect a strategic effort to scale both creatively and operationally.
Candela is no stranger to these challenges. With a PhD in machine learning and nearly a decade of experience leading responsible AI and machine learning groups at Facebook, he brings deep industry expertise. At OpenAI, he initially led efforts to prepare for building AI systems. Now, he aims to construct what he calls a “staggeringly capable, mission-aligned workforce,” rooted in the company’s values and long-term goal of artificial general intelligence.
OpenAI’s hiring spree is a reflection of its larger ambition: to lead not only in innovation but in execution. As the company grows, it is relying on experienced leaders like Candela to build a team that can handle the demands of scaling safely and responsibly. In a crowded and rapidly changing industry, the strength of its workforce may prove just as critical as the power of its models.
