In a dramatic turn of events, Windsurf's CEO left for Google, taking key AI talent with him just as employees expected an acquisition announcement from OpenAI. The fierce competition for AI experts among tech giants has escalated, leading to secret deals and unexpected departures, highlighting the immense value placed on top-tier AI researchers.

OpenAI, Google, and xAI are in a fierce competition to attract top AI researchers, with salaries exceeding $10 million annually for elite talent. The increasing demand for skilled professionals has led companies to adopt innovative hiring strategies to secure individual contributors essential for advancing their AI capabilities.