Decoder with Nilay Patel

Why AI researchers are getting paid like NBA All-Stars

Listen Later

This is Alex Heath, your Thursday episode guest host and deputy editor at The Verge. Today I'm joined by Hayden Field, The Verge’s new senior AI reporter to talk about the AI talent wars and why some researchers are suddenly getting traded like their NBA superstars.

Both Hayden and I have been reporting on this for the past several weeks to get a sense of much these companies are paying for top talent, why Big Tech firms like Google are opting to hire instead of acquire, and what it means that some of the most sought-after AI experts in the world are no longer motivated by money alone. 

Links: 

  • OpenAI’s Windsurf deal is off — and Windsurf’s CEO is going to Google | Verge
  • Mark Zuckerberg promises you can trust him with superintelligent AI | Verge
  • Meta is trying to win the AI race with money — but not everyone can be bought | Verge
  • Meta says it’s winning the talent war with OpenAI | Command Line
  • Google gets its swag back | Command Line
  • The AI talent wars are just getting started | Command Line
  • Meta tried to buy Safe Superintelligence, hired its CEO instead | CNBC
  • Apple loses top AI models executive to Meta’s hiring spree | Bloomberg
  • Meta’s AI recruiting campaign finds a new target | Wired
  • Anthropic hires back two AI leaders from Anysphere | The Information

    • Credits:

    Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

    Our producers are Kate Cox and Nick Statt. Our editor is Ursa Wright. 

    The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store
    Decoder with Nilay PatelBy The Verge
    • 4.1
    • 4.1
    • 4.1
    • 4.1
    • 4.1

    4.1

    3,119 ratings

    More shows like Decoder with Nilay Patel

    View all
    Explain It to Me by Vox

    Explain It to Me

    7,858 Listeners

    The Gray Area with Sean Illing by Vox

    The Gray Area with Sean Illing

    10,731 Listeners

    Switched on Pop by Vulture

    Switched on Pop

    2,679 Listeners

    Pivot by New York Magazine

    Pivot

    9,556 Listeners

    Gastropod by Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley

    Gastropod

    3,662 Listeners

    The Vergecast by The Verge

    The Vergecast

    3,704 Listeners

    The Talk Show With John Gruber by Daring Fireball / John Gruber

    The Talk Show With John Gruber

    3,145 Listeners

    Channels with Peter Kafka by Vox Media Podcast Network

    Channels with Peter Kafka

    554 Listeners

    Accidental Tech Podcast by Marco Arment, Casey Liss, John Siracusa

    Accidental Tech Podcast

    2,139 Listeners

    Uncanny Valley | WIRED by WIRED

    Uncanny Valley | WIRED

    502 Listeners

    Upgrade by Relay

    Upgrade

    1,219 Listeners

    Good One by Vulture

    Good One

    1,480 Listeners

    Land of the Giants by Vulture

    Land of the Giants

    2,164 Listeners

    Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast by Vox Media Podcast Network

    Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast

    5,978 Listeners

    Unlocking Us with Brené Brown by Vox Media Podcast Network

    Unlocking Us with Brené Brown

    23,599 Listeners

    The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway by Vox Media Podcast Network

    The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

    5,545 Listeners

    A Touch More with Sue Bird & Megan Rapinoe by Vox Media Podcast Network

    A Touch More with Sue Bird & Megan Rapinoe

    722 Listeners

    Big Technology Podcast by Alex Kantrowitz

    Big Technology Podcast

    494 Listeners

    Hard Fork by The New York Times

    Hard Fork

    5,518 Listeners

    Good Noticings by Vox Media Podcast Network

    Good Noticings

    6,478 Listeners

    Unexplainable by Vox

    Unexplainable

    2,305 Listeners

    Cover Story by New York Magazine

    Cover Story

    1,219 Listeners

    Not Just Football with Cam Heyward by Cam Heyward

    Not Just Football with Cam Heyward

    151 Listeners

    On with Kara Swisher by Vox Media

    On with Kara Swisher

    3,529 Listeners

    Networth and Chill with Your Rich BFF by Vivian Tu

    Networth and Chill with Your Rich BFF

    1,747 Listeners

    The 404 Media Podcast by 404 Media

    The 404 Media Podcast

    386 Listeners

    Prof G Markets by Vox Media Podcast Network

    Prof G Markets

    1,430 Listeners

    Bird's Eye View with Sue Bird by Sue Bird

    Bird's Eye View with Sue Bird

    438 Listeners

    Solutions with Henry Blodget by Vox Media Podcast Network

    Solutions with Henry Blodget

    32 Listeners

    Version History by The Verge

    Version History

    48 Listeners