Not About Salary! Zuckerberg Says AI Pros Join Meta for Compute Power and Autonomy

Not About Salary! Zuckerberg Says AI Pros Join Meta for Compute Power and Autonomy

Last Updated Jul - 16 - 2025, 03:54 PM | Source : Fela News

Mark Zuckerberg says top AI researchers are joining Meta not just for big paychecks but for access to massive GPU power, creative control, and small high-impact

When Silicon Valley whispers “nine-figure salaries,” people listen. Yet Mark Zuckerberg, in a candid interview with The Information, insists that pay isn’t the main attraction for AI researchers joining Meta’s Superintelligence Labs. He chuckles, “Lol, that’s mostly inaccurate.”

Zuckerberg says the real magnet is Meta’s unmatched computing resources “infinite GPUs” and the freedom to work in lean, focused teams that have direct access to leadership, sometimes even to him personally. He recalls new recruits saying, “We want maximum GPUs,” and Meta responded by redesigning the lab to accommodate that.

This strategy has paid off. Meta has recruited top talent from Apple, OpenAI, DeepMind, and more sometimes offering compensation packages rumoured to be in the hundreds of millions. But Zuckerberg emphasizes clarity: money alone won’t cut it. Researchers are chasing the dream of building “superintelligence” alongside autonomy, strong infrastructure, and the promise to make an impact on day one.

Industry peers support this viewpoint. A recent Wall Street Journal report highlights how Zuckerberg personally courts top candidates, negotiating not just compensation but promising compute horsepower and mission-driven roles. Still, Meta’s big spend is being scrutinized. Some caution that gas-guzzling metacentric and sky-high offers may not guarantee long-term cultural fit or research breakthroughs.

As Meta builds vast computing “superclusters” and scales AI investment, Zuckerberg’s pitch boils down to autonomy and access: give researchers a lab with no middle managers, a pile of GPUs, and clear responsibility and they’ll show up, eight-figure sign-on or not.

This clever blend of resources, responsibility, and vision could help Meta compete in the global AI tech race on its own terms.

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