How AI researchers are getting paid like NBA All-Stars

In this episode of Decoder, Alex Heath interviews Hayden Field, The Verge's senior AI reporter, about the intense talent war in the AI industry. They discuss the unprecedented hiring practices of Big Tech companies like Meta, Google, and Amazon, focusing on the massive compensation packages offered to top AI researchers and the trend of "reverse acquihires," where companies poach talent instead of acquiring entire startups. The conversation explores the motivations of AI researchers beyond monetary gains, such as the importance of company vision, work culture, access to resources like GPUs, and the impact of their work. They also touch on the potential peak of the AI talent bubble and the long-term implications of these hiring strategies.