How much money would convince you to work with Mark Zuckerberg? For some recent recruits at Meta’s AI division, even millions of dollars haven’t been enough. According to a new report from the Financial Times, Meta’s AI lab is in such disarray that top-tier hires have threatened to quit within days, with the company resorting to handing out high-ranking promotions just to keep them on board.
Shengjia Zhao’s Fast-Track to “Chief AI Scientist”
One of the most striking examples is Shengjia Zhao, a former OpenAI researcher who worked on ChatGPT. After only a short time at Meta, Zhao reportedly began making arrangements to return to OpenAI — even signing paperwork to do so. To prevent his departure, Meta offered him the title of “chief AI scientist,” highlighting the chaos and desperation within the lab.
Talent Exodus From Meta’s Superintelligence Lab
Zhao is not alone. Wired recently reported that several high-profile recruits have already left, including former OpenAI employees Ethan Knight and Avi Verma, as well as ex-Google DeepMind researcher Rishabh Agarwal. Many spent just a few months at Meta before walking away. Even veteran staffers are leaving — more than two dozen long-time employees have exited in recent weeks, according to FT.
Endless Reorganizations and Catch-Up Strategy
It’s not hard to see why. Meta’s AI division has been plagued by constant restructurings — four major overhauls in just six months. To catch up with competitors like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google, Meta has thrown vast sums of money at recruiting, but this has only added to the instability. Critics say Zuckerberg’s earlier obsession with the metaverse blinded him to the AI wave, and his attempts to make up for lost time may have put Meta even further behind.
Alexandr Wang’s Contentious Role
Complicating matters further is Alexandr Wang, the former Scale AI CEO. After Meta invested $15 billion in Scale to absorb its talent and infrastructure, Wang was named Meta’s Chief AI Officer. However, insiders describe him as abrasive, reportedly clashing with Zuckerberg and alienating employees.
The Limits of Infinite Money
Meta’s deep pockets allow it to hire almost anyone in the AI field, but money alone can’t solve a cultural and organizational mess. While Zuckerberg can outbid rivals for talent, there’s one thing he can’t buy: a personality that keeps people around.
