Amidst a significant talent drain to Meta, OpenAI is experiencing an unexpected internal shift: the company has largely paused operations this week, granting employees a much-needed respite. However, leadership remains actively engaged.
A memo obtained by Wired, sent by OpenAI Chief Research Officer Mark Chen to all staff, signaled a direct confrontation with Meta’s aggressive recruitment tactics. Chen disclosed that he, alongside CEO Sam Altman and other senior executives, are working around the clock to engage with employees who have received offers from Meta.
To counter Meta’s advances, OpenAI is also re-evaluating its compensation structures and exploring new avenues for recognizing and rewarding top talent. Chen, however, emphasized a crucial principle: “While I will do my utmost to retain each of you, it will not come at the expense of fairness to others.”
In a span of just a few weeks, Meta has successfully poached at least eight key researchers from OpenAI. Chen vividly described the situation, stating, “I have a strong feeling, as if someone broke into our home and stole something. Please trust that we are not standing idly by.”
The company’s intensive work culture, often characterized by 80-hour weeks, is also undergoing a transformation.
In the all-hands memo, Chen acknowledged that the company had previously been overly fixated on a rapid product release cadence and short-term comparisons with competitors. This pressure cooker environment led many employees to consistently work up to 80 hours per week.
Multiple sources have confirmed that OpenAI will be largely shuttered for the week, allowing employees to recharge. Family members of employees have corroborated this news.
However, some observers question the timing of this widespread break, suggesting it might inadvertently provide an opportune window for Meta to intensify its recruitment efforts.
Yet, an OpenAI employee commented that the week-long break was a pre-scheduled event, not a direct reaction to Meta’s recruitment drive.
Indeed, some netizens have pointed out OpenAI’s impressive output in the first half of 2025, citing over 16 model and product updates, suggesting the break is well-deserved.
Another executive added in the all-hands communication, “Meta knows we’re on break this week and will likely leverage this time to pressure you into making quick, independent decisions. If you feel pressured, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.”
A former OpenAI employee who worked closely with Altman revealed that Altman had envisioned a steady stream of high-profile product launches every few months. However, this approach appears to be evolving, with OpenAI now prioritizing the pursuit of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
Chen articulated this renewed focus: “We need to continue concentrating on our true objective: finding ways to translate computational power into intelligence. This is our primary mission, and the conflict with Meta is a secondary concern.” He also hinted at the deployment of additional supercomputers later this year.
One More Thing
It’s unclear if Elon Musk was privy to OpenAI’s internal pause, but his company, xAI, is reportedly scheduled to release its latest large language model, Grok 4, this week.
Musk himself has been leading by example, reportedly sleeping at the office since the end of last month.
Unverified photos circulating online depict dozens of tents set up in various corners of the xAI office, a stark visual contrast to OpenAI’s company-wide break.
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