Race to Superintelligence: Meta’s $1 Trillion Talent Play

The race for AI dominance is intensifying, and Meta is determined to pull ahead. To accelerate progress toward superintelligence, the company is offering extraordinary compensation packages to attract the world’s top researchers. What once seemed decades away—machines surpassing human intelligence—now feels within reach.

The headlines are striking. One developer reportedly secured a $250 million package after rejecting an initial $125 million offer from Zuckerberg. Another engineer is said to have turned down a billion-dollar deal, even from the world’s third-richest man.

At first glance, it looks like a talent war without limits. But beneath the eye-catching numbers lies a more complex reality: many of these offers may never be fully paid out.

Race for the Brightest Minds

Google’s DeepMind recently achieved a milestone few thought possible. Its AI won a gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), a competition designed to test creativity and original reasoning in the world’s sharpest high school students.

Until recently, experts believed such breakthroughs were years away. Billionaire Alex Gerko even bet $10 million that no AI would achieve IMO gold within five years. Yet the prize was claimed in just 18 months.

Soon after, Zuckerberg began speaking more openly about “superintelligence.” That timing was no coincidence.

Why Timing Matters

Superintelligence refers to AI systems that outperform humans across nearly every domain. In a recent letter, Zuckerberg noted, “Over the last few months we have begun to see glimpses of our AI systems improving themselves… Developing superintelligence is now in sight.”

This belief explains why Meta is pouring billions into talent. But here’s the catch: those billion-dollar salaries are typically paid out over years. If superintelligence truly arrives within the next 6–12 months, many recruits may never see their full payout.

Because once AI can improve itself, the economics of human talent—and competition—change overnight.

A Race Against the Clock

Bold, seemingly overpriced bets are nothing new for Zuckerberg. Instagram’s $1 billion acquisition was mocked in 2012; today it generates more than $70 billion annually. WhatsApp’s $19 billion price tag also raised eyebrows, but it’s now the backbone of Meta’s global messaging dominance.

Even the metaverse pivot, though premature, shows his willingness to move early on ideas others dismiss. His timing hasn’t always been perfect, but his vision often proves correct.

With AI, however, timing is not just important—it’s decisive. The first to reach superintelligence won’t just win market share; they will reshape the market entirely.

What’s at Stake

If Meta succeeds, the impact won’t be incremental. It could mean trillions in new value, restructuring industries and economies almost overnight. Compared to that, billion-dollar salaries look less like extravagance and more like bargains.

Because in the race to superintelligence, the ultimate prize isn’t just market dominance—it’s control over the future itself.​

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