Latest news with #MarkChen
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
OpenAI announces week‑long shutdown to combat burnout and talent poaching
CHENNAI: OpenAI has initiated an unusual, company-wide shutdown for one full week beginning early July, citing severe employee burnout as the primary reason. According to several reports, teams have been averaging 80-hour workweeks, pushing leadership to mandate this break for staff wellbeing However, the timing of the shutdown has sparked speculation. Some experts argue that it serves a dual purpose -- not only as a wellness break but also as a strategic buffer in the escalating AI talent war with Meta. Meta, led by Mark Zuckerberg, has launched an aggressive recruitment campaign targeting OpenAI researchers. Although there are varying reports, but signing bonuses have been described as reaching up to $100 million, with Meta successfully courting at least seven to eight OpenAI scientists. OpenAI's Chief Research Officer, Mark Chen, sent a candid internal memo describing the exodus as feeling 'like someone has broken into our home and stolen something.' He warned employees that Meta would likely step up outreach efforts during the shutdown, urging them not to make hasty, isolated decisions.. In response, OpenAI leadership—including Chen and CEO Sam Altman—have pledged comprehensive countermeasures. These include recalibrating compensation packages and exploring some 'creative recognition strategies'. OpenAI is also personally reaching out to employees who have received external offers, and reinforcing company mission and values in communications. Supportive messages from senior research managers to the broader engineering teams also emphasised caution against 'ridiculous exploding offers' and encouraged staff to remain in dialogue with internal leadership.
NDTV
21 hours ago
- Business
- NDTV
Here's How Much Meta Is Paying Its AI Engineers, Researchers
Amid recent claims that Meta was splurging hundreds of millions to lure top AI talents from rivals, the new federal filings have revealed how much the company is paying its current employees. Although most tech companies closely guard their compensation details, the government-mandated disclosures prompt them to release the data. The numbers come from filings that companies must submit to the Labor Department when hiring foreign workers through the H-1B visa program, which allows them to bring in 85,000 specialised workers annually through a lottery system. The highest-paid AI research engineers at Meta are receiving salaries in upwards of Rs 3.7 crore ($440,000), which does not include the stock options, bonuses or other perks that make up the total package, according to a report in Business Insider. Artificial Intelligence: Machine learning engineer: Rs 1.4 crore ($165,000) to Rs 3.7 crore ($440,000) Research engineer: Rs 1.3 crore ($154,840) to Rs 3.4 crore ($400,000) Machine learning infrastructure engineer: Rs 2.04 crore ($239,723) Data scientists: Data science director: Rs 2.7 crore ($320,000) Data science manager: Rs 2.1 crore ($248,920) to Rs 2.5 crore ($301,619) Senior manager, data and analytics: Rs 2.3 crore ($280,000) Engineering: Software engineer: Rs 1.02 crore ($120,000) to Rs 4.1 crore ($480,000) Software engineering manager: Rs 1.8 crore ($219,978) to Rs 2.8 crore ($328,000) Senior software engineer: Rs 1.6 crore ($194,467) to Rs 2.5 crore ($302,134) Product: Product management director: Rs 3.04 crore ($356,512) Product design director: Rs 2.7 crore ($321,538) Product design manager: Rs 2.2 crore ($267,540) to Rs 2.3 crore ($279,594) Research: UX researcher: Rs 1.4 crore ($170,000) to Rs 2.9 crore ($350,000) Research scientist: Rs 1.4 crore ($167,000) to Rs 2.74 crore ($321,101) UX research scientist manager: Rs 2.5 crore ($302,134) In recent months, Mark Zuckerberg-led Meta has successfully hired at least seven staffers from OpenAI, prompting Mark Chen, the rival company's chief research officer, to send a note to staff over the weekend saying it felt "as if someone has broken into our home and stolen something". Apart from OpenAI, Meta's recruitment campaign has also targeted Google, Perplexity AI, and the buzzy AI video startup Runway. Mr Zuckerberg is personally leading the charge, driven by concerns that Meta is falling behind competitors in generative AI. The latest version of Meta's AI model, Llama, ranked below heavyweight rivals in code-writing performance on the LM Arena platform, where users evaluate AI technologies.
Mint
a day ago
- Business
- Mint
Did OpenAI shut down for a week to stop Meta's AI talent poaching spree?
OpenAI has reportedly ordered a week-long mandatory break for all employees in what appears to be a desperate attempt to stem internal unrest and retain talent, following an aggressive recruitment campaign by Meta. The development comes amid growing concerns over a wave of high-profile departures from the AI firm, including at least eight researchers who have recently joined Meta's new 'superintelligence' team. The unexpected move highlights the deepening crisis at OpenAI as it battles to stay ahead in the increasingly cut-throat artificial intelligence race. According to sources cited by Wired, Meta has been actively poaching top AI talent from OpenAI, offering eye-watering incentives, including signing bonuses rumoured to be as high as $100 million. Reportedly, the exodus has rattled OpenAI's leadership. In an internal Slack message viewed by Wired, the company's Chief Research Officer Mark Chen described the situation in emotional terms, saying, 'I feel a visceral feeling right now, as if someone has broken into our home and stolen something.' He also assured staff that both he and CEO Sam Altman are working "around the clock" to counter Meta's recruitment drive. According to The Wall Street Journal, Meta's recent hires from OpenAI represent a significant 'recruiting coup', sparking anxiety within OpenAI's executive ranks. The firm, known for its cutting-edge AI models such as ChatGPT, is under mounting pressure to defend its leadership status in the sector as companies rush to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI), AI systems capable of replicating human cognitive abilities. TOI reported that the departures have created a climate of uncertainty and resentment within OpenAI. Several employees have shared frustrations over long work hours, often exceeding 80 hours a week and a perceived lack of support in the face of Meta's offers. In another leaked message, an OpenAI leader criticised Meta's approach, saying, 'If they pressure you, or make ridiculous exploding offers, just tell them to back off. It's not nice to pressure people in potentially the most important decision.'
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
OpenAI shuts down for a week as Meta's billion-Dollar talent war heats up
In a dramatic move that's jolting Silicon Valley, OpenAI is shutting down for an entire week. The official reason? Employee burnout. But the timing couldn't be more strategic, nor alarming. As Meta dangles outrageous signing bonuses and reels in high-profile OpenAI talent, the pause feels less like a vacation and more like a defensive manoeuvre in an escalating talent war. Open AI shuts down for a week. Why is OpenAI shutting down? OpenAI says the break is meant to help its staff recover after months of back-to-back 80-hour work weeks. The decision comes amid internal concerns about burnout, fatigue, and waning morale across teams. But the sabbatical also coincides with Meta's increasingly aggressive efforts to lure away OpenAI's best minds. This is raising eyebrows about whether the timing is more about damage control than employee wellness. Talent war: Meta's aggressive poaching Meta isn't playing coy. Reports suggest it's offering up to $100 million signing bonuses to top AI researchers and engineers, particularly those trained at OpenAI. Several former OpenAI employees have already joined Meta's FAIR division and its newly supercharged AGI research teams. With OpenAI staff feeling overworked and undervalued, the temptation is hard to resist, and Meta knows it. Internal response at OpenAI Internal memos from OpenAI Chief Research Officer Mark Chen and CEO Sam Altman reveal the depth of concern. Chen acknowledged the growing anxiety within the team and urged everyone to 'reconnect with the mission.' Altman reportedly promised a recalibration of compensation, greater internal recognition, and called for unity in the face of external poaching. But for many, those assurances are coming late, and the offers from outside are simply too good. Risks and reactions There's widespread fear that Meta will exploit the shutdown week to accelerate its recruitment push, catching OpenAI off guard. While engineers and researchers rest, Meta recruiters are still on the move. Only OpenAI's executive team is expected to work during the break, another sign that leadership sees this as more than just R&R. What this means for OpenAI and the AI industry This shutdown highlights two growing concerns: the unsustainable pace of work at AI labs chasing AGI, and the intensifying competition for top-tier talent. For OpenAI, it's a moment of vulnerability, but also a cultural reckoning. Its next moves could shape not just its own future, but the direction of the entire AI industry.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
OpenAI is Closing Down for one-full week
AI Image In what appears to be desperate bid to retain talent amid an aggressive poaching campaign by Meta, ChatGPT maker OpenAI has announced a mandatory week-long vacation for its employees. The move comes as the artificial intelligence (AI) race intensifies, with Meta luring at least eight OpenAI researchers to its newly formed "superintelligence" team over the past week, according to sources cited by Wired. This "recruiting coup," as described by the Wall Street Journal, has sparked a crisis at OpenAI, where a cloud of anxiety looms over the C-suite. The loss of talent is particularly stinging for OpenAI, a leader in AI research behind ChatGPT, as it faces mounting pressure to maintain its edge in the competitive AI landscape. Industry analysts note that this talent war reflects broader existential anxieties in the AI sector, where companies are racing to achieve artificial general intelligence (AGI)—AI capable of performing any intellectual task a human can. '80-hour work weeks' that make OpenAI leaders task more challenging Leaders are scrambling to keep staff loyal, a challenging task given that OpenAI employees often endure grueling 80-hour workweeks. The poaching has hit OpenAI hard, with insiders revealing a sense of betrayal among leadership. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Kate Middleton Reportedly Taking Royal Split 'Badly' Crowdy Fan Undo What OpenAI Chief Research Officer Mark Chen told employees In a leaked internal memo posted to an OpenAI Slack channel, chief research officer Mark Chen expressed raw emotion, writing, "I feel a visceral feeling right now, as if someone has broken into our home and stolen something." Chen assured employees that he and CEO Sam Altman are working "around the clock" to counter Meta's aggressive recruitment tactics, which reportedly include staggering $100 million signing bonuses and first-year compensation packages. While OpenAI insiders confirmed these figures, some Meta sources disputed the numbers, according to Wired. One leader wrote, "If they pressure you, or make ridiculous exploding offers, just tell them to back off. It's not nice to pressure people in potentially the most important decision." The message, viewed by Wired, underscores the high stakes of the situation, with OpenAI framing Meta's tactics as aggressive and unethical. Meta's poaching spree is part of its broader pivot toward building human-level AI, an effort to recover from founder Mark Zuckerberg 's shifting priorities, which have included significant investments in the metaverse. One-week vacation and more: What OpenAI is doing to stop Meta from poaching its talent Chen's memo outlined proactive measures to retain talent, including recalibrating compensation and exploring "creative ways to recognize and reward top talent." Beyond the mandatory vacation, however, specifics remain vague. The week-long break, intended to help employees recharge, has raised concerns among OpenAI's leadership that Meta may exploit the downtime to intensify its recruitment efforts. One research lead warned in an internal message, "Meta knows we're taking this week to recharge and will take advantage of it to try and pressure you to make decisions fast and in isolation." The talent war has exposed deeper tensions. Seven other OpenAI research heads have also reached out to employees, urging them to resist Meta's overtures. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
