Meta Poaches OpenAI Researcher Central to o1 Reasoning Model Development

Tech giant Meta has recruited Trapit Bansal, a prominent researcher from OpenAI whose work was key to the development of the company’s o1 reasoning AI model.

Bansal joins Meta as the most recent example of researchers leaving OpenAI to contribute to the social media giant’s expansive AI initiatives, following the departure of other researchers like Lucas Beyer, Alexander Kolesnikov, and Xiaohua Zhai, according to TechCrunch.

These additions are part of Meta’s broader strategy to enhance its AI capabilities, particularly by training models grounded in real-world scenarios.

“There are four essential characteristics of intelligent behavior that every animal, or relatively smart animal, can do, and certainly humans: understanding the physical world, having persistent memory, being able to reason, and being able to plan complex actions — particularly planning hierarchically.”

— Yann LeCun, Meta Chief AI Scientist

Meta’s ambitious AI development efforts have gained heightened international attention as concerns grow worldwide about AI advancement and leadership.

Meta AI Research — *Meta aims to use video data and robotics to better train AI in real-world scenarios. (Source: Illustrative)*

In June, Meta significantly expanded its energy infrastructure for AI operations by acquiring a 49% stake in data labeling company Scale AI (valued at nearly $15 billion). Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang is set to join Meta to lead further development.

Additionally, Meta secured a long-term energy supply for its AI facilities: the company signed a 20-year nuclear energy agreement with Constellation Energy, aiming to receive 1.1 gigawatts of power for its AI infrastructure, with delivery scheduled to begin in 2027 from Illinois’s Clinton Clean Energy Center.

Separately, Meta partnered with defense contractor Anduril to develop AI-powered augmented reality headsets for the US military. These headsets will integrate Anduril’s Lattice platform, designed to consolidate battlefield data.

U.K.’s Orwellian AI Murder Prediction System: Will AI Take Your Job?

In other AI news, the U.K. is trialling an AI murder prediction system, raising concerns about the pervasive influence of artificial intelligence on public safety and employment.

These strategic moves—from research talent acquisition to energy supply guarantees and defense partnerships—underscore Meta’s determination to solidify its position in the global AI race.