Sam Altman Slams Meta's AI Talent Poaching: 'Missionaries Will Beat Mercenaries'

Re:Sam Altman Slams Meta's AI Talent Poaching: 'Missionaries... by chaosharmonic on Tuesday July 01, 2025 @08:48PM (#44439285)

I don't at all disagree with you, but at the kind of money you'd be making at an org like OAI, it's easy to envision there being a ceiling, past which the additional financial compensation doesn't necessarily matter that much.

The problem with the argument is that most places saying this are paying more like a sub-basement, not that there can't genuinely be more important things.

That said, Sam Altman is also a guy who stuck nondisparagement terms into their equity agreement... and in that same vein, framing poaching as "someone has broken into our home" reads like cult language.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Sam Altman Slams Meta's AI Talent Poaching: 'Missionaries... by ryandrake on Wednesday July 02, 2025 @01:21AM (#44440466)

We shouldn’t even be using the offensive word “poaching.” As an employee, I am not a deer or wild boar owned by a feudal lord by working for his company. And another employer isn’t some thief stealing me away. I have agency and control over who I enter into an employment arrangement with!

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Sam Altman Slams Meta's AI Talent Poaching: 'Missionaries... by jaza on Wednesday July 02, 2025 @01:40AM (#44440542)

So then, is "headhunting" more or less bad?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Sam Altman Slams Meta's AI Talent Poaching: 'Missionaries... by ryandrake on Wednesday July 02, 2025 @01:45AM (#44440565)

I think anything that evokes “hunting on someone else’s land for his property” is equally inappropriate.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Sam Altman Slams Meta's AI Talent Poaching: 'Missionaries... by jack_riminton on Wednesday July 02, 2025 @02:29AM (#44440774)

Would "bought" be better then? implies slavery!

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Sam Altman Slams Meta's AI Talent Poaching: 'Missionaries... by vasco on Wednesday July 02, 2025 @07:41AM (#44442482)

There's a word for this, it's called being hired.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Sam Altman Slams Meta's AI Talent Poaching: 'Missionaries... by saubeidl on Wednesday July 02, 2025 @09:06AM (#44443271)

"Making a more competitive offer"

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Sam Altman Slams Meta's AI Talent Poaching: 'Missionaries... by chaosharmonic on Wednesday July 02, 2025 @10:54AM (#44444524)

I don't disagree with this either -- it's very clearly just a free market working both ways.

It also immediately reminds me of the no-call agreements companies had with each other last decade 10 or 15yrs ago.

[ Parent | on HN ]