Lucas Beyer, alongside colleagues Alexander Kolesnikov and Xiaohua Zhai, has joined Meta to work on superintelligence, refuting claims of a $100 million signing bonus. These researchers previously worked at OpenAI's Zurich office. Meta is investing heavily in AI, specifically targeting the development of systems capable of human-level intelligence.
Meta's recruitment drive is part of a broader strategy to consolidate AI efforts under Meta Superintelligence Labs, led by Alexandr Wang. This initiative aims to accelerate the development of advanced AI models. While OpenAI CEO Sam Altman suggested Meta was offering exorbitant sums to lure talent, Beyer has dismissed these claims as inaccurate.
OpenAI has responded by reassuring staff and recalibrating compensation to retain talent. Meta's aggressive pursuit of AI specialists underscores the intense competition in the AI sector. Meta's CTO, Andrew Bosworth, has defended the company's approach, acknowledging the premium commanded by scarce AI talent.
