The competition for elite AI talent is fiercer than ever, and Meta Platforms Inc. is making headlines with its unique recruitment strategies. Recently, OpenAI’s Mark Chen revealed that CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally delivered homemade soup to prospective candidates as part of their efforts to lure them away, a bold move in the high-stakes world of AI recruiting.

Insights from OpenAI’s Chief Research Officer

During his appearance on the Core Memory podcast, Chen provided a fascinating look into the ongoing recruitment wars among leading AI organizations. He pointed out that while Meta’s aggressive hiring initiatives have received significant media coverage, OpenAI has also been actively working to retain its talent.

The Recruitment Battle

Chen emphasized that many of his direct reports were approached by Meta without success, noting:

• Meta’s push for talent included attempts to recruit half of Chen’s direct reports.
• Despite significant offers, they all chose to stay with OpenAI.

Meta’s Recruitment Strategy

Reports indicate that Meta allocates approximately $10 billion annually for AI recruitment. Although they have faced challenges in hiring from competitors like OpenAI, the financial backing allows for notable successes.

Zuckerberg’s Personal Touch

One of the standout moments Chen described was Zuckerberg’s unexpected choice to hand-deliver soup to candidates. This personal touch prompted a chuckle from Chen, who later adopted a similar tactic:

• Homemade soup delivery may seem unconventional, but it can create a positive impression.
• This method highlights the lengths to which companies will go to secure top talent.

Meta’s Hiring Trends

Despite the fierce competition, Meta managed to bring on several researchers and engineers from rival firms, with compensation packages reportedly soaring to stunning heights, including:

• $100 million offers for some positions.
• A $14 billion equity deal for Scale AI co-founder Alexandr Wang.

However, Meta’s recruiting push faced a setback when reports emerged that they paused hiring within their AI division. As the tech landscape evolves, these recruitment strategies will likely continue to be a topic of discussion.