The Unshakable Stand of AI Researchers
In a tech industry where top talent rarely turns down big money, one AI startup just sent a clear message: autonomy matters more than a billion-dollar paycheck. Multiple reports confirm that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg offered over $1 billion to recruit key figures from a fast-rising artificial intelligence company. All of them said no.
Meta’s $1.5 Billion Recruitment Effort Came Up Empty
Earlier this summer, Zuckerberg personally reached out to Andrew Tullock, a co-founder of Thinking Machines Lab (TML) and a former Meta engineer, with a deal reportedly worth $1.5 billion over six years. The offer was part of a broader push to assemble elite talent for Meta’s new Superintelligence Lab, a division designed to compete with OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic in the race to build what Zuckerberg calls “personal superintelligence.”
Despite the size of the offer, Tullock declined — as did every other TML team member approached by Meta. Among them was Mira Murati, the other co-founder of TML and former CTO of OpenAI, who also walked away from Zuckerberg’s outreach. Meta’s communications director, Andy Stone, told Wired that while the exact figures reported may not be accurate, the outreach itself was real.
Why the Money Wasn’t Enough to Seal the Deal
Meta’s package — which included salary, stock options, and bonuses — may be among the largest ever offered to a single researcher in tech. But for the TML team, it didn’t move the needle. According to sources cited in Futurism, the researchers were more interested in staying with a company that promotes scientific freedom, intellectual autonomy, and a clear long-term mission.
“TML has enough money, a sharp direction, and way more independence than Meta can promise right now,” one unnamed source told Wired.
Founded in 2024, Thinking Machines Lab quickly gained traction by raising what is now the largest funding round in AI startup history, reaching a valuation of $12 billion in under a year. That war chest gave it room to retain talent and reject outside takeovers — no matter how high the price.
Meta’s AI Struggle: Big Offers, Shaky Reputation
This isn’t the first time Meta has had trouble closing deals in the AI space. While companies like OpenAI and Google dominate the headlines with public-facing models and breakthroughs, Meta has been playing catch-up, most recently with the release of its LLaMA 4 language model. Critics argue the rollout was marred by inflated performance benchmarks and unclear documentation, raising concerns about internal culture and transparency.
Adding to the uncertainty is Meta’s decision to appoint Alexandr Wang, co-founder of Scale AI, as the head of its Superintelligence Labs. While Wang is a known name in the AI space, some within the field have questioned his leadership experience, particularly in managing large-scale R&D teams.
“The people at TML weren’t just walking away from money — they were walking away from a culture that doesn’t align with their values,” a former Meta employee told Futurism.
The New Era of Tech Talent
Meta may need to rethink how it courts researchers if it wants to stay in the game. Prestige, it seems, now hinges less on market cap and more on the space you give people to build. For TML, the decision to turn down a multi-billion-dollar offer was not just about financial gain but about preserving the integrity of their vision and the freedom to innovate without external constraints.
As the AI landscape continues to evolve, the battle for top talent is no longer just about the size of the paycheck. It's about the environment, the mission, and the ability to shape the future on one's own terms. For now, TML has chosen its path — and it's a path that prioritizes autonomy over wealth.