Meta’s recent multi-billion dollar hiring spree has sparked concerns that the tech giant is scrambling to keep pace with rival companies in the AI space. According to DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, Meta’s aggressive recruitment efforts suggest that they are “fighting tooth and nail” to catch up with competitors.
The hires include top talent from generative AI space, such as an offer of $1 billion for a single individual, making it one of the largest packages ever offered. This move was reportedly rejected by Andrew Tulloch, co-founder of the startup that Mira Murati launched after leaving OpenAI.
Meta’s quest to secure top AI talent is not unique. Enterprises across various industries are facing acute shortages of workers with AI skills, with some employers willing to pay a 31% premium for staff with relevant expertise. Research has shown that workers with AI skills can expect higher wages, with Indeed finding that they can command a wage 47% higher than those without.
However, this surge in demand for high-end talent poses significant challenges for enterprises, including rising salary costs and strain on budgets. According to analysis from CloudZero, 35% of companies surveyed said rising salary costs are among the biggest barriers to filling gaps in their AI talent pool.
As Meta continues its pursuit of top AI talent, it is essential to consider the importance of researchers’ views on pioneering the technology safely into the world. Hassabis emphasized that “there’s more important things than just money,” highlighting the need for a balanced approach to AI development and deployment.
Source: https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/deepmind-ceo-demis-hassabis-thinks-metas-multi-billion-dollar-hiring-spree-shows-its-scrambling-to-catch-up-in-the-ai-race