In a significant shift within the AI industry landscape, OpenAI is experiencing a concerning talent drain as numerous engineers and researchers depart for competitors like Anthropic and Google DeepMind. According to Business Insider’s reporting, this exodus is expected to accelerate in 2025 when many employees’ four-year stock grants fully vest, potentially creating a critical talent retention challenge for the ChatGPT maker. The departures come amid growing internal tensions over OpenAI’s commercial direction and governance structure following last year’s leadership crisis involving CEO Sam Altman.
Industry insiders reveal that Anthropic, founded by former OpenAI executives, has become a particularly attractive destination for departing talent. The company’s more research-focused approach and clearer governance model are appealing to AI professionals concerned about OpenAI’s increasingly commercial priorities. Meanwhile, Google DeepMind continues to leverage its substantial resources and research reputation to attract top AI talent. This talent migration raises important questions about OpenAI’s future innovation capabilities and competitive positioning as the race to develop advanced AI systems intensifies across the industry.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-engineers-anthropic-google-deepmind-2025-6