Meta has been making significant strides in its AI ambitions, attracting top talent from competitors like OpenAI. One of the company’s most alluring tactics to poach researchers is the offer of hefty signing bonuses, reportedly as high as $100 million. 
However, a former OpenAI researcher who recently made the switch to Meta has revealed that these lavish offers may be more fiction than fact.
Lucas Beyer, who previously worked at OpenAI and helped establish its Zurich office, along with colleagues Alexander Kolesnikov and Xiaohua Zhai, joined Meta in November after making a move that would seem like a dream to many: a high-paying opportunity to work at one of the biggest tech giants. But according to Beyer, the much-publicized $100 million signing bonus that Meta supposedly offered was never on the table for him or his colleagues. Instead, Beyer set the record straight on social media, declaring that the whole thing was a lie.
Despite the drama, many people expressed sympathy for Beyer, while others were less supportive, pointing out that he had already made a successful career move by leaving a company that had boosted his reputation and provided financial rewards. His tweet resonated with those who felt Meta’s offer was part of a broader, aggressive strategy to weaken OpenAI, though not all believed the claims about the exaggerated bonus.
Meta continues to push its AI agenda with a $15 billion investment in Scale AI, a data-labeling company, which is further fueling speculation that the company is ramping up efforts to stay competitive in the AI race. However, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has expressed skepticism about Meta’s hiring tactics. He argued that luring talent away with large sums of money may create short-term gains but is unlikely to foster a healthy, innovative culture. Altman also made it clear that he doesn’t think Meta is leading the charge in AI innovation.
In the wake of these revelations, current OpenAI researchers are likely feeling reassured, as Meta’s attempt to poach key talent has not been as successful as they might have hoped. Beyer’s comments are a reminder that despite the allure of big bonuses, the real value of working at a place like OpenAI may lie in its unique culture and long-term vision.