OpenAI Poaches Meta AI Researcher Ruoming Pang in $200M+ Deal

OpenAI has successfully recruited Ruoming Pang, a prominent AI researcher who had recently joined Meta Platforms from Apple, in a deal reportedly worth over $200 million, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The hiring represents one of the most expensive talent acquisitions in the AI industry, underscoring the intense competition among tech giants for top researchers as they race to develop advanced artificial intelligence systems. Pang had only been at Meta for approximately seven months after leaving his position at Apple, where he had worked on AI initiatives.

While OpenAI declined to comment on the specific terms of the deal, a spokesperson confirmed that Pang had joined the company. The reported $200 million+ package over several years would make this one of the largest compensation packages ever given to an AI researcher, reflecting both Pang's expertise and the strategic importance of his work.

Pang's background includes significant contributions to AI research, particularly in areas relevant to OpenAI's mission of developing safe and beneficial artificial general intelligence. His movement between major tech companies—from Apple to Meta to OpenAI in less than a year—illustrates the fluid nature of AI talent in Silicon Valley and the premium placed on researchers with experience across different AI development environments.

The acquisition comes amid broader industry trends of escalating compensation for AI specialists, with companies offering multi-million dollar packages to secure researchers who can advance their competitive positions in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. OpenAI's willingness to make such a substantial investment in a single researcher signals the company's aggressive approach to talent acquisition as it continues to push the boundaries of AI capabilities.

This high-profile hire also highlights the ongoing brain drain from traditional tech companies like Apple and Meta to specialized AI firms like OpenAI, as researchers seek opportunities to work on cutting-edge AI development with potentially greater autonomy and resources.

For OpenAI, bringing in Pang represents not just the acquisition of his individual expertise but also the potential transfer of knowledge and methodologies he developed during his time at two of the world's most valuable technology companies.