Mark Zuckerberg’s “secret list” of top AI talent, for whom Meta is reportedly willing to offer up to $100 million, is the subject of intense speculation in Silicon Valley. This coveted list includes recent PhD graduates from prestigious universities and experienced professionals from rival AI labs, indicating Meta’s broad and aggressive approach to talent acquisition.
The Meta CEO has reportedly spent months personally curating this list, engaging in direct outreach to desired candidates. This hands-on involvement, combined with a dedicated WhatsApp group chat for recruitment discussions, highlights the strategic importance Meta places on securing these elite AI engineers and researchers to accelerate its AI development.
However, the lavish financial incentives have drawn sharp criticism, most notably from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Altman publicly slammed the rumored offers as “crazy,” expressing concern that an overemphasis on guaranteed upfront pay might detract from a strong company culture built on mission and meaningful work. This public debate highlights the ethical considerations in the AI talent market.
Meta’s aggressive recruitment, coupled with its recent $14 billion investment in Scale AI and the establishment of a “superintelligence team,” signifies a determined push to accelerate its AI capabilities. The identities of those on Zuckerberg’s “secret list” and whether they accept Meta’s lucrative offers will significantly impact the future of AI innovation.