In mid-2025, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg attempted to acquire Thinking Machines Lab for $1 billion (₹8,500 crore). The offer was made to co-founder Mira Murati, former OpenAI CTO. She declined, stating that the company’s long-term vision for open-source AGI couldn’t be compromised. Not a single member of the 50-person team accepted Meta’s recruitment offers.
A $1.5 Billion Offer That Didn’t Stick
After the failed acquisition, Meta offered a personal compensation package worth $1.5 billion to Andrew Tulloch, co-founder and leading engineer at Thinking Machines Lab. Tulloch, a former engineer at OpenAI, Meta, and Goldman Sachs, turned it down. He chose to remain with the startup, driven by mission, vision, and significant equity ownership.
Why Meta’s Offers Fell Flat
Despite offering $200–500 million packages to other engineers at Thinking Machines Lab, Meta failed to attract any of them. Factors behind the rejection include:
- Belief in mission-driven innovation
- Confidence in the startup’s $12 billion valuation
- Loyalty to founder Mira Murati
- Concerns about Meta’s leadership team
- Preference for building open-source, high-impact AI tools over integrating AI into social apps
Background: Rise of Thinking Machines Lab
Thinking Machines Lab was founded in February 2025 by Mira Murati. In just a few months, it attracted top researchers from OpenAI, Meta, and Anthropic. The company raised $2 billion in its seed round, reaching a valuation of $12 billion without even launching a product. The first tool from the lab is expected within the next few months and is said to include open-source capabilities.
Implications for the AI Industry
Meta’s failed recruitment campaign highlights a changing tide in the AI job market. Compensation alone no longer attracts the top talent. Engineers now prefer startups that offer equity, autonomy, and alignment with their values. Tulloch’s rejection of Meta’s $1.5 billion shows that purpose matters more than paycheck in this new AI era.
What’s Next for Thinking Machines Lab and Meta
Thinking Machines Lab plans to release its first product later this year and continue hiring AI talent on its terms. Meta, despite the setbacks, remains focused on expanding its Superintelligence Labs under co-heads Nat Friedman and Alexandr Wang. However, the company may need to rethink how it recruits and retains top-tier researchers in an increasingly values-driven field.
Key Takeaways
- Thinking Machines Lab rejected Meta’s $1 billion acquisition offer
- Andrew Tulloch turned down a $1.5 billion compensation deal
- No team members from Thinking Machines Lab joined Meta
- The startup remains focused on building open-source AGI tools
