OpenAI Temporarily Shuts Down Amid Meta Poaching Threat; Internal Memo Warns of Aggressive Tactics
OpenAI pauses operations for a week to let staff recharge amid Meta's aggressive hiring push; leadership warns of poaching, plans pay strategy overhaul.
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OpenAI is initiating a rare, company-wide shutdown next week to allow employees a much-needed break following intense work schedules, with many reportedly logging 80-hour weeks. The move comes as the AI research firm battles mounting pressure from rival Meta, which is aggressively attempting to lure away top talent with lucrative offers, including signing bonuses said to exceed $100 million.
Meta Targets OpenAI Staff During Downtime
According to a report by Wired, OpenAI’s Chief Research Officer Mark Chen issued an internal warning to staff via Slack, cautioning them about Meta’s opportunistic recruitment efforts. “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,” Chen wrote in the memo.
The concern isn’t unfounded. In recent weeks, Meta’s superintelligence division has hired at least seven OpenAI researchers, including key figures like Lucas Beyer, Alexander Kolesnikov, Xiaohua Zhai, and Trapit Bansal — one of the minds behind OpenAI’s o1 model.
OpenAI Reassesses Compensation Strategy
In response to these talent raids, OpenAI leadership is reportedly “recalibrating” its compensation packages. The company is exploring creative ways to recognize and retain top performers, Chen noted. This follows CEO Sam Altman’s revelation that Meta has made multimillion-dollar offers to some OpenAI team members — though defectors have called some of those claims “exaggerated.”
Altman, however, remains confident, stating, “None of our best people have taken them up on that,” citing OpenAI’s strong mission-driven culture and cutting-edge innovation as key retention factors.
Company Shifts Focus from Products to AGI
OpenAI’s short-term operational pause also reflects a broader strategic shift. The company, best known for products like ChatGPT, is now moving away from rapid product launches to focus more fully on its long-term goal: building artificial general intelligence (AGI).
While the break offers employees a chance to reset, leadership will continue to operate during the week, ensuring core functions remain active as the company navigates competitive threats and internal restructuring.
