Talent wars: OpenAI lures AI researcher who drew Rs 1,800-crore salary package at Meta

Bloomberg had earlier reported that Pang joined Meta last year under a multi-year compensation package exceeding $200 million.

OpenAI has recruited Ruoming Pang, a prominent artificial intelligence researcher from Meta, just months after he joined the social media giant from Apple, The Information reported on Wednesday, citing an OpenAI spokesperson.

At Meta, Pang led AI infrastructure efforts within its Superintelligence Labs, the division tasked with building the company’s next-generation AI models. According to the report, he departed Meta last week following months of sustained recruitment efforts by OpenAI.

Pang earlier headed model development at Apple before moving to Meta last year under a multi-year compensation package reportedly valued at over $200 million, tied to specific performance milestones. His departure was seen as a setback for Apple, which has faced challenges in advancing AI models and integrating cutting-edge features into its devices.

Apple chose not to counter the offer, which reportedly dwarfed the compensation typically paid to executives at the company outside of chief executive officer Tim Cook.

Bloomberg had earlier reported that Pang joined Meta last year under a multi-year compensation package exceeding $200 million.

The package is broadly consistent with what Meta has been offering other high-profile recruits to its newly formed superintelligence team, which is focused on developing AI systems capable of performing tasks at or beyond human level, sources said.

On paper, compensation within the superintelligence unit ranks among the most lucrative in corporate America — in some cases rivaling or exceeding CEO pay at major global banks. However, a substantial portion of the remuneration is linked to performance milestones and long-term retention, meaning employees may not realise the full amount if they exit early or if Meta’s stock underperforms.

Packages at Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL) typically include a base salary, a signing bonus and equity grants, with stock awards forming the largest component. The upfront cash elements — salary and joining bonus — are often sizable. In instances where recruits forfeit valuable startup equity to join Meta, signing bonuses may be structured higher to offset that opportunity cost, the people added.

Pang's move comes amid an intensifying Silicon Valley talent battle, as major tech firms dangle lucrative multi-million-dollar offers to secure top AI researchers in a high-stakes race to dominate the next phase of artificial intelligence.