Why Everybody Wants to Work at Anthropic or OpenAI
OpenAI and Anthropic have replaced Google as the primary status symbols for Silicon Valley talent, according to reports from Business Insider. These frontier AI labs are attracting top executives and engineers through the promise of shaping the AI revolution and potential IPO payouts, with Anthropic often listed as the top priority for candidates.
Why are OpenAI and Anthropic the new “status symbols” in tech?
For years, a job at Google was the ultimate tech credential. Now, the industry’s most ambitious workers are chasing the “frontier labs.” According to career coach Sundeep Teki, who helps place talent at AI firms, nearly every candidate he speaks with targets these two companies. Teki told Business Insider that “nine times out of 10,” applicants list OpenAI or Anthropic on their target forms.
The draw isn’t just prestige. Workers are eyeing the potential for massive financial gains. Charles Broomfield, a former Amazon employee now at Google, told Business Insider that while giants like Meta and Microsoft are past their hyper-growth phase, these startups offer a shot at making millions through an IPO.
Some applicants view these roles as a path to long-term stability. Designer Marx Ojemudia told Business Insider he likens the potential for a long career at an AI lab to his father’s 30-year tenure at Ford Motor Company.
How do OpenAI and Anthropic differ in their hiring and goals?
While both labs compete for the same talent pool, they project different identities to attract candidates. Sundeep Teki notes that Anthropic is heavily “safety-centric,” whereas OpenAI focuses more on achieving AGI, or artificial general intelligence.
This distinction attracts different types of applicants. Marketer Karli Jaenike told Business Insider that Anthropic’s stance against the surveillance of Americans “solidified” her interest in the company, citing a preference for ethical AI development.
The perceived quality of the product also drives demand. Rune Kvist, a former Anthropic employee, told Business Insider that “vibes are downstream of the models.” He argues that because people spend hours using the Claude chatbot, they naturally view the company behind it more favorably.
Comparison: The Frontier Lab Landscape
| Feature | OpenAI | Anthropic |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | AGI Development | AI Safety & Ethics |
| Workforce Size | ~4,500 | 3,500+ |
| Open Roles | ~720 | ~380 |
Who is leaving Big Tech to join AI labs?
The talent war has reached the C-suite. OpenAI has recruited former CEOs of Instacart and Slack for its leadership team. It also hired Sarah Friar, who previously led Square and Nextdoor through their IPOs, as its CFO.
Anthropic has similarly poached veterans from Google, Microsoft, Instagram, and Stripe. The lab also recently brought on Andrej Karpathy, the former AI director at Tesla.
This migration suggests a shift in where the “power” resides in Silicon Valley. As AI tools like Codex and Claude Code begin to automate software engineering tasks—contributing to layoffs at firms like Square and Cloudflare—the companies creating those tools remain the only “safe” havens with abundant resources.
What is the interview process like at these labs?
Getting into a frontier lab is harder than landing a role at a Big Tech firm. Michelle Perchuk, a negotiation coach and former talent acquisition worker, told Business Insider that the competition is “like getting into the hot new restaurant in town.”
These labs are moving away from traditional markers of success. Perchuk says they increasingly ignore Ivy League degrees in favor of “critical thinking” and “test thinking”—the ability to iterate patiently until a solution is found.
The technical hurdles are equally steep. According to Sundeep Teki, candidates face some of the most difficult interviews in the industry. This includes take-home assignments that test how an applicant uses AI coding tools, followed by multiple rounds of screening on machine learning and system design.
What happens if the AI bubble bursts?
Despite the hype, some workers are cautious. Charles Broomfield, who was previously laid off from Amazon, told Business Insider he’s hesitant to believe any company is “layoff-proof” if the work can be done by AI.
This creates a paradox: the very tools these employees are building to achieve “technological supremacy” could eventually automate their own roles. However, for now, the promise of six-figure base salaries and equity outweighs the risk for most applicants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which AI company is harder to get into?
According to Michelle Perchuk, both are extremely competitive, but they prioritize “critical thinking” and “test thinking” over traditional credentials like Ivy League degrees.
What are the salaries like at OpenAI and Anthropic?
Charles Broomfield noted that both companies regularly list roles with six-figure salaries before adding equity compensation.
How do these labs find new talent?
Beyond traditional applications, recruiters often find candidates who “build in public” on GitHub or social media, according to Sundeep Teki.
Do these companies still value traditional degrees?
While they may have in the past, Michelle Perchuk reports that frontier labs are increasingly focusing on exceptional talent outside of conventional academic standards.
Are you considering a move to an AI lab or sticking with Big Tech? Share your thoughts in the comments below or subscribe to our newsletter for more insights into the Silicon Valley talent war.