New Delhi: Amid the rapidly intensifying global competition in artificial intelligence, noted AI researcher Ruoming Pang has once again drawn attention after joining OpenAI following his exit from Meta. Pang reportedly left behind a multi-year compensation package worth hundreds of millions of dollars. His move reflects the growing strategic importance of top-tier AI expertise in the global technology industry. Sources suggest that OpenAI had been trying for several months to bring him on board before Pang finally decided to switch companies.
A Career Across Tech Giants
Ruoming Pang is counted among the select group of AI research experts whose technical capabilities are highly sought after by global technology firms. Earlier, he had left Apple to join Meta. At Meta, he was offered a long-term compensation package estimated at over $200 million (approximately ₹18.2 billion), which included performance-linked milestones related to long-term association with the company.
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Role in Superintelligence Lab Initiatives
During his tenure at Meta, Pang played a leadership role in AI infrastructure development projects within the Superintelligence Labs. The primary objective of this lab is to build next-generation advanced AI models that could help shape the future of machine learning and generative AI technologies. Despite Meta’s efforts to retain him, Pang eventually decided to move on.
Before joining Meta, Pang also worked at Apple in a senior position where he led model development initiatives. His departure from Apple last year to join Meta had also attracted industry attention, as technology companies increasingly compete to attract top AI talent by offering massive compensation packages.
The High-Stakes Battle for AI Talent
Industry experts believe that companies are adopting aggressive strategies to attract skilled researchers to stay ahead in the global AI race. In major US technology firms, compensation offered to AI researchers and infrastructure specialists is sometimes comparable to, or even higher than, CEO-level salaries in the banking sector. However, most of these packages are performance-based, meaning employees receive the full benefits only if they remain with the company for a longer period.
What It Signals for the Global AI Race
Reports suggest that the compensation structure for employees working in Meta’s Superintelligence Labs is among the most attractive in the global tech industry. Nevertheless, Pang’s decision to leave indicates the growing demand for high-level AI researchers, prompting companies to adopt new retention strategies.
With Ruoming Pang joining OpenAI, competition in the AI sector is expected to become even more intense. Experts believe that his experience may help the company advance next-generation AI technologies. Industry observers say that the race for AI talent is likely to accelerate further as global technology companies continue to invest heavily in smart model development and superintelligence research.
