Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has fired back at Meta’s recent wave of hiring former OpenAI researchers. In a strong internal message, Altman made it clear: this isn’t just about salaries or big names—it’s about culture, mission, and values.
Meta’s Superintelligence Push
This new tech drama started when Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a new superintelligence team. It will be led by Alexandr Wang (ex-Scale AI) and Nat Friedman (former GitHub head). The team also includes former OpenAI researchers like Shuchao Bi, Jiahui Yu, and Hongyu Ren.
This didn’t sit well at OpenAI.
Chief Research Officer Mark Chen compared it to a break-in: “It felt like someone broke into our home and stole something.”
Altman’s Response: Mission Over Money
In a memo obtained by WIRED, Sam Altman slammed Meta, warning that what they’re doing could lead to “deep cultural problems.” He admitted Meta got some great people—but made it clear they didn’t get the best.
“They had to go far down their list,” Altman said, noting Meta’s long and desperate recruiting attempts.
He argued that while Meta runs after short-term trends, OpenAI remains focused on the bigger mission: building Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) in a responsible way.
“Missionaries will beat mercenaries,” Altman wrote, saying OpenAI attracts those who believe in the cause, not just the cash.
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Culture Matters More Than Compensation
Altman also hinted that OpenAI is reviewing compensation, but not just to compete with Meta. He wants to reward those who stayed for the mission—not just those who got an offer from the rival.
He believes OpenAI has a “special team and culture” that can’t be replicated. While the company has grown fast, he says they’ve kept their core values strong.
“We’re quirky and weird,” one OpenAI staffer added in Slack. “But that’s what makes this place magical.”
OpenAI Isn’t Going Anywhere
Altman is confident in OpenAI’s roadmap and their big investment in compute power. While Meta might chase the next big trend, he says OpenAI will stick to its mission year after year.
In a final jab at Meta, Altman said their focus keeps changing, while OpenAI is here to stay.
“Long after Meta has moved on to their next flavor of the week, we’ll still be here.”
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