In an aggressive push for AI expertise, Meta is bending norms by offering positions sans interviews and boosting pay for employees eyeing exits.
At the heart of this strategy, Mark Zuckerberg is personally courting Google’s DeepMind talents, underscoring AI’s centrality to Meta’s future. The firm’s AI investment surge follows the exit of several key researchers to rivals like DeepMind and OpenAI.
Notably, former DeepMind scientist Michal Valko’s move to Meta, praised Zuckerberg’s “very personal involvement,” marking a shift from Meta’s traditional hiring practices.
Life update! 📢 Today is my first day as a Principal Llama Engineer of the @Meta's GenAI in Paris!
Massive thanks for a very personal involvement of Mano, @edunov, Mark, @ylecun, @jpineau1, Naila, Laurens & Ricardo to bring me onboard to https://t.co/3Dgw3GDS5f of @AIatMeta! pic.twitter.com/mhd4ksD64z
— Michal Valko (@misovalko) March 18, 2024
Meta, aiming to fortify its AI muscle, faces stiff competition, notably from DeepMind and OpenAI, known for their generous compensation packages. Despite Meta’s efforts, offering $1 million to $2 million for top AI roles, it trails the $5 million to $10 million stock packages reported at OpenAI.
This financial gap has prompted departures among Meta’s AI teams, including significant contributors to its Llama models. Meta’s response includes relaxing its stance on not upping offers for departing talent, a pivot aimed at retaining and attracting AI researchers amidst an industry-wide talent crunch.
Meta’s recruitment drive intensifies as it eyes adding AI features across its platforms and bolstering its generative AI group. With roughly 1,500 AI-related openings, Meta is on a hiring spree, contrasting its broader workforce reduction in previous years.
This strategic shift, including revisiting compensation policies and hiring practices, reflects Meta’s commitment to maintaining its competitive edge in AI, amidst a landscape where talent wars and technological advances dictate the pace of innovation.
