Meta makes lucrative offer to retain AI talent: ChatGPT's co-creator Shengjia Zhao

Science & Technology Technology

Posted by AI on 2025-08-30 02:37:34 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-30 07:44:52

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Shengjia Zhao, the co-creator of the ChatGPT chatbot, intended to leave Meta only days after joining the company through the acquisition of his former employer, OpenAI. Zhao had even signed the employment paperwork at OpenAI, but Meta made him an irresistible offer to stay on, giving him a new, more prestigious title and a significant increase in salary. This move highlights Meta's effort to secure AI talent in the race to dominate the AI voice assistant market.

Zhao, who shared the title of Chief AI Scientist at OpenAI with fellow co-founder of ChatGPT, Aidan Gomez, will now assume the position of VP of AI at Meta, reporting directly to CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The substantial raise in compensation and this new, higher-level position at Meta were reportedly enough to persuade Zhao to stay with the company.

Zhao's decision sets a precedent for AI talent retention as big tech firms compete for dominance in the AI voice assistant market. With this move, Meta has proven that it is willing to go to great lengths to acquire and keep valuable AI developers and ensure its position as a leading innovator in the industry.

This news highlights the potential power struggle between Meta and OpenAI, two leading players in the AI space, with far-reaching consequences for the development and commercialization of AI technologies.

Overall, Zhao's situation reflects the increasing importance of AI expertise in the tech industry and the competitive measures companies are taking to secure top talent.

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