OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has responded to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s recent talent poaching spree, dismissing Meta’s recruiting efforts as “deeply cultural problems” that could lead to chaos. Altman emphasized that staying at OpenAI is the only answer for those looking to build artificial general intelligence (AGI), hinting that the company may reevaluate compensation for its entire research organization.
Altman wrote in a Slack message, “We have gone from some nerds in the corner to the most interesting people in the tech industry. AI Twitter is toxic; Meta is acting in a way that feels somewhat distasteful.” He added that OpenAI’s culture and mission are superior to Meta’s approach, which he believes will lead to deep cultural problems.
Altman highlighted OpenAI’s strengths, stating that it has the most special team and culture in the world. The company is committed to building AGI in a good way, not just as an instrumental goal for other missions. He expressed confidence that OpenAI will continue to innovate and make progress on its research roadmap, which he believes is unprecedented.
High-ranking Meta employees who have joined OpenAI recently shared their own reasons for leaving the company, praising OpenAI’s quirky and innovative culture. Altman emphasized that OpenAI’s approach will ultimately prevail in the AI talent war.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/sam-altman-meta-ai-talent-poaching-spree-leaked-messages