Just ahead of the rollout of GPT-5, OpenAI announced it is granting bonuses of $1 million each to 1,000 eligible employees, primarily AI researchers and engineers across various departments. Reports indicate that about a third of the company’s workforce qualifies for the bonus, marking the first time such a large number of employees are being rewarded simultaneously.
The move underscores OpenAI’s focus on retaining top AI talent amid growing competition from companies like Meta and xAI. While the exact bonus for each employee has not been disclosed, it is expected to vary based on rank and role. AI researchers, who already earn multi-million-dollar annual salaries, are likely to receive the highest payouts, while engineers could receive bonuses in the hundreds of thousands, paid over two years. Employees may also choose to receive the bonus in cash, stock, or a combination of both.
OpenAI, backed by Microsoft, is currently valued at approximately $300 billion. Media reports suggest the company plans to allow current and former employees to sell vested stocks to investors, potentially netting millions.
CEO Sam Altman reportedly told The Verge that compensation will continue to rise in line with OpenAI’s performance and earnings.
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