It appears that the AI talent hiring war is not going to end anytime soon. Now an online report suggests that tech giant Microsoft is going after Meta’s AI talent. As reported by Business Insider, Microsoft has made a list of most-wanted Meta engineers and researchers and is now initiating the process of making them an offer. According to internal documents seen by Business Insider, the tech giant is matching Meta’s compensation packages and fast-tracking offers to lure away key personnel — a move that could spell trouble for Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The list prepared by Microsoft is part of the company’s revamped hiring strategy which aims to strengthen its AI capabilities across divisions. The report also reveals that the company may prioritising candidates who have worked on Meta’s Llama models, Reality labs and generative AI infrastructure.

Why its bad news for Meta

Meta has already witnessed multiple rounds of layoffs in 2025. The company has fired around 3,600 employees identified as “low performers” in what Zuckerberg called an “intense year” focused on operational efficiency. Now Microsoft’s targeted hiring threatens to drain Meta’s remaining top-tier talent — especially those working on its most ambitious AI projects.“Meta is working on building some of the most important technologies of the world,” Zuckerberg said in a January memo. “I want to make sure we have the best people on our teams.”Also, Microsoft’s “most-wanted” list strategy represents a calculated attempt to undermine competitors while strengthening its own AI capabilities. Microsoft’s strategy of targeting specific individual rather than casting a wide net will enable the company to more efficiently deploy and use its resources and also maximise the damage caused to the rivals.

The battle for AI supremacy

The rivalry between Microsoft and Meta is not a new one. However, the rivalry has intensified further as both the tech giants are gearing up to dominate the future of AI. Microsoft has also partnered with OpenAI and has integrated its chatbot ChatGPT into its products. On the other hand, Meta is betting big on its Llama models and AI-powered smart glasses. With Microsoft now actively targeting Meta’s talent pool, the competition is no longer just about products — it’s about people.