Meta hires key OpenAI researcher to boost AI reasoning models
Meta is doubling down on its ambition to lead the next wave of artificial intelligence by hiring Trapit Bansal, a renowned AI researcher formerly with OpenAI. Known for his expertise in reinforcement learning and foundational contributions to OpenAI’s early AI reasoning models, Bansal's move signals Meta’s serious investment in developing a competitive AI reasoning system. As AI research heats up across Big Tech, many are now wondering: how will this new hire shape Meta's position in the global AI arms race?
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Why Meta hires OpenAI researcher for its AI reasoning push
When it comes to cutting-edge AI research, talent is the most valuable currency. Meta’s decision to bring on board Trapit Bansal, a veteran from OpenAI, underscores this reality. Bansal is credited with launching reinforcement learning initiatives alongside Ilya Sutskever and helping develop OpenAI’s first reasoning model, o1. His contributions were key in establishing OpenAI’s foothold in logical AI behavior and advanced model performance. By joining Meta’s AI superintelligence unit, Bansal is expected to shape the company’s foundational approach to AI reasoning models that could rival or surpass those from OpenAI, DeepSeek, and Anthropic.
This strategic hiring also reflects a broader trend: Meta is aggressively building a bench of elite AI talent. Bansal’s transition comes as Meta looks to catch up with industry leaders in the reasoning capabilities of AI — a domain where OpenAI’s o3 and DeepSeek’s R1 models are currently setting benchmarks. Meta, so far, hasn’t released a public-facing AI reasoning model, but the latest moves indicate one is likely in the works.
Who else is joining Meta’s AI superintelligence dream team
It’s not just Trapit Bansal making headlines. Meta has recently attracted a wave of top researchers from OpenAI and other AI powerhouses. According to recent reports, Lucas Beyer, Alexander Kolesnikov, and Xiaohua Zhai — all former OpenAI experts — have joined the ranks of Meta’s AI superintelligence team. The team is being guided by prominent figures including Alexandr Wang (former CEO of Scale AI), and possibly Nat Friedman and Daniel Gross, both known for their involvement in safe superintelligence research.
These hires collectively reflect Meta’s vision to build a superintelligence lab that doesn’t just match industry standards but sets new ones. Also onboard is Jack Rae, a former Google DeepMind researcher, and Johan Schalkwyk, previously the head of machine learning at Sesame. The assembly of this elite team is reminiscent of OpenAI’s early days — a mix of brains, ambition, and bold research objectives.
Notably, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is pulling out all the stops to secure these talents. Reports suggest compensation offers reaching up to $100 million for leading researchers. Although Bansal’s exact deal hasn’t been disclosed, his decision to jump ship hints at a compelling offer and a strong vision from Meta.
How Meta’s latest AI hires could reshape the future of reasoning models
The addition of Trapit Bansal and other top-tier researchers to Meta’s AI superintelligence team represents more than just a talent acquisition — it’s a long-term play for dominance in AI reasoning. Reasoning models are considered the next frontier in artificial intelligence, enabling machines to think more like humans, make structured decisions, and even explain their logic. These models go beyond simple prediction and dive deep into logical problem-solving — a crucial component for applications like AGI (Artificial General Intelligence), autonomous systems, and advanced robotics.
For Meta, which already runs several AI tools under its Meta AI banner, this marks a significant evolution. With Bansal and others onboard, the company may soon roll out its own frontier AI model to rival OpenAI’s o3 or DeepSeek’s R1. And this time, the competition isn’t just about performance benchmarks — it’s about safety, transparency, and trustworthiness too. Meta appears to be building not just a smarter model, but a safer one as well.
Given the influx of researchers deeply involved in responsible and explainable AI, Meta could position itself as a leader in developing reasoning models that align with regulatory expectations and user trust. This could be especially valuable in the wake of rising global scrutiny around AI safety.
Meta’s strategic shift shows AI reasoning is the next battleground
Meta’s decision to hire Trapit Bansal and assemble an elite team of AI researchers reveals a focused strategy: to lead the charge in the next evolution of AI reasoning. As the race toward Artificial General Intelligence intensifies, Meta's investments in top minds and safe superintelligence frameworks could place it ahead of other tech giants. While it remains to be seen when Meta will unveil its first AI reasoning model, the current moves suggest it’s not far off.
From OpenAI to Meta, Bansal’s journey marks a transfer of experience that could accelerate Meta’s AI ambitions significantly. And with more researchers from top labs following suit, Meta’s AI superintelligence lab might soon be one of the most advanced hubs of reasoning-focused AI research globally.
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