OpenAI offers stock compensation from the first day of employment... Intensifying competition for AI talent

Source: TokenPost Original Title: OpenAI offers stock compensation from the first day of employment… Intensifying AI talent competition Original Link: With the rapid development of artificial intelligence(AI) technology, competition among global big tech companies for related talent is increasingly heating up. Notably, OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, has announced a policy of providing stock compensation to new employees starting immediately upon hiring, actively responding to the talent acquisition race.

Until recently, OpenAI operated a ‘vesting cliff(vesting cliff)’ system, a common industry practice, where employees could receive stock after a certain period of work. This system required a minimum of 12 months, with at least half that time—6 months—worked before stock compensation could be granted. However, as of December 2025, OpenAI, led by CEO(CEO) Fiji Simo, reportedly abolished this system entirely. The company explains that the new policy aims to allow employees to pursue innovative challenges without the burden of an uncertain future.

The background of this change lies in the intensifying competition to secure AI talent. Major US tech companies like Meta and Google are already attracting top AI researchers with annual salary packages worth billions of won. Some firms are even acquiring promising startups outright or recruiting competitors’ personnel with lucrative compensation.

Meanwhile, OpenAI still faces financial constraints, as it has yet to generate significant operating profits but must continue high fixed costs such as massive data center investments. Instead of increasing immediate cash rewards, it has adopted a strategy of compensating with stock that is expected to appreciate in value over the long term. According to the Wall Street Journal, OpenAI allocated about $6 billion—half of its projected annual revenue of approximately $12 billion—for stock-based compensation this year.

This trend is also evident at xAI, another AI company led by Elon Musk. Since relaxing its employment requirements, xAI has seen an increase in acceptance rates for job offers. While AI technology replaces certain roles, such as junior developers, leading to layoffs within organizations, top-tier AI talent is receiving compensation worth hundreds of millions of won, illustrating a polarization in the job market.

This trend is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. Particularly in emerging fields like generative AI, the talent war among global companies seeking competitive advantages is likely to intensify. Changes in compensation systems will also have a significant impact on traditional employment culture.