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: 
<ul>
 <li>
OpenAI’s Windsurf deal is off — and Windsurf’s CEO is going to Google | <a href="https://www.theverge.com/openai/705999/google-windsurf-ceo-openai">Verge</a>
</li>
 <li>
Mark Zuckerberg promises you can trust him with superintelligent AI | <a href="https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/715951/mark-zuckerberg-meta-ai-superintelligence-scale-openai-letter">Verge</a>
</li>
 <li>
Meta is trying to win the AI race with money — but not everyone can be bought | <a href="https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/703929/meta-openai-anthropic-superintelligence-lab-ai-poaching-money">Verge</a>
</li>
 <li>
Meta says it’s winning the talent war with OpenAI | <a href="https://www.theverge.com/command-line-newsletter/694028/meta-openai-100-million-bonus-talent-war">Command Line</a>
</li>
 <li>
Google gets its swag back | <a href="https://www.theverge.com/command-line-newsletter/713603/google-search-chatgpt-openai-earnings-ai-race-swag">Command Line</a>
</li>
 <li>
The AI talent wars are just getting started | <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/20/24326135/ai-talent-wars-databricks-interview">Command Line</a>
</li>
 <li>
Meta tried to buy Safe Superintelligence, hired CEO Daniel Gross instead | <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/19/meta-tried-to-buy-safe-superintelligence-hired-ceo-daniel-gross.html">CNBC</a>
</li>
 <li>
Apple loses top AI models executive to Meta’s hiring spree | <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-07/apple-loses-its-top-ai-models-executive-to-meta-s-hiring-spree">Bloomberg</a>
</li>
 <li>
Meta’s AI recruiting campaign finds a new target | <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/mark-zuckerberg-ai-recruiting-spree-thinking-machines/">Wired</a>
</li>
 <li>
Anthropic hires back two coding AI leaders From Anysphere | <a href="https://www.theinformation.com/briefings/anthropic-hires-back-two-coding-ai-leaders-cursor-developer-anysphere">The Information</a>
</li>
</ul>
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.
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