In 2024, Google and OpenAI stole Meta's top engineers. Instead of...
Fernando Cao@thefernandocz
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Jun 22, 2025
~3 min read
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In 2024, Google and OpenAI stole Meta's top engineers.
Instead of recruiting new talent, Zuckerberg started personally emailing rival employees.
His offer? Not $1 million. Not $5 million.
Here's what he's giving them instead: 🧵
Instead of recruiting new talent, Zuckerberg started personally emailing rival employees.
His offer? Not $1 million. Not $5 million.
Here's what he's giving them instead: 🧵
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The bleeding started in January of 2024.
Meta's best AI researchers were walking out the door.
First, a few key engineers jumped to OpenAI.
Then Google poached their computer vision team.
Soon, it became an exodus...
Meta's best AI researchers were walking out the door.
First, a few key engineers jumped to OpenAI.
Then Google poached their computer vision team.
Soon, it became an exodus...
0:49
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The numbers were devastating.
Meta lost 4.3% of their AI talent in 2024.
Only Google lost more at 5.4%.
Meanwhile, their rivals were building the future without them.
Traditional recruiting had completely failed.
Meta lost 4.3% of their AI talent in 2024.
Only Google lost more at 5.4%.
Meanwhile, their rivals were building the future without them.
Traditional recruiting had completely failed.
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Headhunters couldn't compete with OpenAI's offers.
HR departments were useless against Google's prestige.
The talent pool was tiny - maybe 100 people who truly understood frontier AI models.
So Zuckerberg tried something unprecedented:
HR departments were useless against Google's prestige.
The talent pool was tiny - maybe 100 people who truly understood frontier AI models.
So Zuckerberg tried something unprecedented:
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He started personally emailing AI researchers.
"I got an email from Mark personally," one researcher told me.
"And he said, 'I have an offer for you.'"
The offer was beyond anything they'd ever seen...
"I got an email from Mark personally," one researcher told me.
"And he said, 'I have an offer for you.'"
The offer was beyond anything they'd ever seen...
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At least $10 million per year.
Some offers went into 8 figures.
No job description. No specific role.
Just "we want you" and a number that could buy a mansion.
"I was really shocked to be honest," the researcher said.
Some offers went into 8 figures.
No job description. No specific role.
Just "we want you" and a number that could buy a mansion.
"I was really shocked to be honest," the researcher said.
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This wasn't a desperate one-off move.
Meta created a list of 50-100 people they absolutely had to have.
Then they went after each one personally.
Their strategy was simple: throw money at the problem until it disappears.
Meta created a list of 50-100 people they absolutely had to have.
Then they went after each one personally.
Their strategy was simple: throw money at the problem until it disappears.
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AI talent isn't just rare. It's irreplaceable.
"Training frontier models is a bit like alchemy," one expert told me.
"A small number of deeply experienced researchers can make a huge difference."
The math is brutal but simple.
"Training frontier models is a bit like alchemy," one expert told me.
"A small number of deeply experienced researchers can make a huge difference."
The math is brutal but simple.
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1 genius researcher equals billions in potential value.
Meta invested $15 billion in Scale AI just to get access to their CEO.
They're spending $60-65 billion on AI infrastructure in 2025.
Meta projects AI will generate $460 billion to $1.4 trillion by 2035.
Meta invested $15 billion in Scale AI just to get access to their CEO.
They're spending $60-65 billion on AI infrastructure in 2025.
Meta projects AI will generate $460 billion to $1.4 trillion by 2035.
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The talent war is just beginning.
Every tech company is chasing the same 100 people.
Salaries are exploding. $10 million is becoming the new normal.
But here's what most people don't realize about this arms race:
Every tech company is chasing the same 100 people.
Salaries are exploding. $10 million is becoming the new normal.
But here's what most people don't realize about this arms race:
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The biggest opportunity lies beyond the code itself.
These AI talent stories generate massive attention.
Every major announcement drives millions of eyeballs to tech content.
Smart founders build personal brands around these insights.
These AI talent stories generate massive attention.
Every major announcement drives millions of eyeballs to tech content.
Smart founders build personal brands around these insights.
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The real shift isn’t just in how much Meta is spending.
It’s why they’re spending it.
Because the tools are no longer the advantage.
Everyone will have access to the same AI models, infrastructure, and capabilities.
That’s not where the leverage is anymore...
It’s why they’re spending it.
Because the tools are no longer the advantage.
Everyone will have access to the same AI models, infrastructure, and capabilities.
That’s not where the leverage is anymore...
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The edge now?
The ability to communicate a clear point of view—
Consistently and in public.
That’s what turns noise into demand.
That’s what compounds....
The ability to communicate a clear point of view—
Consistently and in public.
That’s what turns noise into demand.
That’s what compounds....
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And it allows smart founders:
• More qualified leads with less outreach
• Long-term leverage instead of constant effort
• Evergreen content that works around the clock
Because the next wave won’t be won by whoever builds the best tool...
• More qualified leads with less outreach
• Long-term leverage instead of constant effort
• Evergreen content that works around the clock
Because the next wave won’t be won by whoever builds the best tool...
0:44
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It’ll be won by whoever becomes impossible to ignore.
Because they’ve built around something AI can’t replicate:
Their clarity, vision, and voice.
The question is:
Are you ready to be undeniable?
Good.
Because they’ve built around something AI can’t replicate:
Their clarity, vision, and voice.
The question is:
Are you ready to be undeniable?
Good.
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Thanks for reading!
A bit about me:
2 years ago, I cofounded @ThoughtleadrX — a premium personal branding agency for world-class founders, executives, and investors to dominate socials.
If you enjoyed this, hit "follow" for more breakdowns!
A bit about me:
2 years ago, I cofounded @ThoughtleadrX — a premium personal branding agency for world-class founders, executives, and investors to dominate socials.
If you enjoyed this, hit "follow" for more breakdowns!
Fernando Cao@thefernandocz
In 2024, Google and OpenAI stole Meta's top engineers.
Instead of recruiting new talent, Zuckerberg started personally emailing rival employees.
His offer? Not $1 million. Not $5 million.
Here's what he's giving them instead: 🧵
Instead of recruiting new talent, Zuckerberg started personally emailing rival employees.
His offer? Not $1 million. Not $5 million.
Here's what he's giving them instead: 🧵