OpenAI, the artificial intelligence (AI) firm, is intensifying its competition with Google by offering lucrative compensation packages to attract top researchers. The company has reportedly hired numerous former employees from Google and Meta, with the goal of bolstering its AI capabilities. OpenAI is also in discussions for another employee share sale that could value the company at an impressive $86 billion.
According to reports, OpenAI's recruiters are aiming to entice Google's top AI researchers with pay packets ranging from $5 million to $10 million. Additionally, the company is reportedly offering access to advanced tech resources such as AI accelerator chips for testing purposes. These incentives, coupled with the potential for significant financial gains through the share sale, may prove attractive to researchers considering a move to OpenAI.
This is not the first time OpenAI has successfully recruited talent from industry giants. When the company launched its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, last November, five former Google researchers were acknowledged in the blog post. OpenAI has also hired a substantial number of former employees from both Google and Meta, with at least 93 individuals joining its ranks. These hires demonstrate OpenAI's commitment to assembling a team of experts with experience in advanced AI technologies.
OpenAI's focus on attracting top talent aligns with its broader mission of developing AI systems that are safe and beneficial to humanity. Jan Leike, the head of OpenAI's superalignment team, stated that the company is actively seeking candidates who are passionate about AI safety, possess critical thinking skills, and have expertise in machine learning and coding.
Despite the reported efforts to lure Google researchers, OpenAI did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.
In summary, OpenAI is aggressively competing with Google by offering substantial compensation packages and access to cutting-edge technology resources. The company's recruitment efforts have already attracted former Google and Meta employees, and it is now seeking to expand its talent pool further. With a potential valuation of $86 billion, OpenAI's investment in talent acquisition demonstrates its commitment to advancing AI research and development.