When Meta offered Thinking Machines Lab researchers compensation packages ranging from $200 million to $1 billion, not a single one accepted. Mira Murati, the startup’s founder and ex-OpenAI CTO, confirmed the stunning rebuff—proving that even Zuckerberg’s deep pockets can’t always win the AI talent war.
By Nij Martin
Mark Zuckerberg is on a mission to dominate AI—but his billion-dollar recruitment drive keeps hitting roadblocks. Recent reports reveal that top researchers, including Thinking Machines Lab’s team and ex-Meta scientist Andrew Tulloch, are rejecting staggering offers to stay independent.
The Thinking Machines Snub
Meta’s newly launched Superintelligence Lab tried to poach researchers from Murati’s startup with offers up to $1 billion. Yet, as Murati told Wired, “not a single person has taken the offer.” Meta’s communications director disputed the figures but didn’t deny the rejections.
Why Say No to Billions?
For scientists like Tulloch—who walked away from a potential $1.5 billion deal—the appeal lies in building something new. Thinking Machines Lab, though pre-product, is already valued at $12 billion, proving that visionary startups can outshine corporate titans.
Zuckerberg’s Spending Spree
Meta isn’t giving up. It lured Apple’s former AI head with $200M and signed 24-year-old Matt Deitke for $250M after doubling his initial offer. But critics argue such deals exacerbate inequality, especially as Meta plans to spend $72B on AI in 2025 while cutting other jobs.
The Bigger Picture
As AI reshapes tech, the battle for talent is becoming a clash of philosophies: corporate giants vs. agile startups. For now, Zuckerberg’s wallet isn’t always winning—and that might be the most revealing trend in Silicon Valley today.
“When computer scientists are paid like athletes, we’ve reached ‘Revenge of the Nerds’ climax,” says MIT’s David Autor. But for some, the real victory isn’t the paycheck—it’s the freedom to reinvent the future.