Latest news with #talent
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Is the AI talent war heating up?
-- The battle for top artificial intelligence talent is intensifying, according to Barclays, with recent data and high-profile moves pointing to escalating competition between tech giants and AI labs. 'Seven-figure retention bonuses and lengthy non-competes may not be enough to keep top talent,' Barclays analysts wrote, adding that 'recent headlines suggesting much larger payouts (and acqui-hires) indicate the AI talent wars continue to escalate.' The spotlight has reportedly intensified with Meta's $14.3 billion investment in Scale AI, which brings founder Alexandr Wang to the company. Barclays noted this is just the latest in a string of moves by major players to lure top minds, often from rivals like Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL), DeepMind, and OpenAI. SignalFire's 2025 State of Talent report, cited by Barclays, estimates that over 20% of employees at leading AI labs were poached from big tech firms. Google alone, excluding its DeepMind unit, is said to account for about a quarter of these transitions. 'It's no surprise to us that Google shows up as the largest exporter of AI talent… they were the largest and arguably the best AI lab pre-ChatGPT,' Barclays said. Anthropic has emerged as a major talent magnet, with 80% employee retention from 2023–2024 compared to OpenAI's 63%. 'The outflow of employees from both OpenAI and DeepMind to Anthropic is surprising,' said the bank. They added that it 'speaks to the huge talent that originated at Google and OpenAI in the early AI era.' Barclays also cited reports that Meta (NASDAQ:META) has offered signing bonuses up to $100 million to OpenAI researchers and continues to poach talent for its 'superintelligence' team led by Mark Zuckerberg. 'Net net, we think it's fair to conclude that the AI talent 'war' is alive and well,' Barclays concluded. Related articles Is the AI talent war heating up? CubeSmart upgraded, Public Storage cut: BMO shifts preference in storage sector Meta and Oakley team up to launch AI-powered smart glasses for athletes
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Meta's big AI hiring push
Meta (META) is reportedly looking to spend some big bucks on talent to give it an edge in AI. In the video above, Yahoo Finance Tech Editor Dan Howley discusses the reports and Meta's AI talent push. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Catalysts here. Meta is on a hiring spree and a bid to beef up its artificial intelligence operations. The company is doling out billions of dollars. The latest reporting says the social giant is hiring former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman and Daniel Gross, the CEO of Safe Super Intelligence, which was founded by an alum of OpenAI. The reports come just one week after Meta invested $14.3 billion into scale AI and hired its CEO, Alexander Wong. Joining us now, we've got Dan Howley. Dan, what do we know about this aggressive strategy here for meta to really bolster its AI operations? Yeah, Brad. This is all about the kind of war for talent ensuring that Meta has the highest level of researchers and just people who are in the know in the AI spaces possible. So, Daniel Gross, obviously he co-founded Super Safe Intelligence with Ilya Sutskever, who also, by the way, co-founded OpenAI. He also was part of AlexNet. That's uh Ilya. That was basically the thing that helped kick off all of the the AI AI model kind of growth out. This guy is prolific. They they wanted to originally according to these reports, buy safe Super Intelligence, but they were rebuffed. And so Meta then went after Gross to to bring him on board. He's doing that as well as Nat Friedman and he's investing or they're investing Meta that is in their own little their little their own portfolio of AI companies. And so this is again, just a bigger part of what we're seeing across the the tech space in AI where companies are going out trying to invest in, if not invest in, then hire some of the biggest names that they can find so that they have the most cutting-edge models available. For Meta, it's part of, you know, one company that's pouring billions of dollars into this. Meta is not happy with the the state of its llama 4 models right now. They're not the only ones that are pouring billions of dollars. Microsoft, uh OpenAI though, that relationship is reportedly souring. Microsoft and OpenAI though say that that's not true. You also have Amazon pouring billions and billions in with their own chips and you have Google with its own investments that are going on. They have Google Deep Mind. They've been moving around some of their pieces there. So, you know, it really is kind of a race to the top to see who can hire who and at what point they'll be able to kind of take the crown from essentially OpenAI still at this point, but with with these investments, you know, Meta clearly trying to say, look, we're we're not going to sit back, we're not going to sit by. We have the the capabilities, we have the the war chest and we're going to go out there and we're going to try to hire whoever we can to try to dethrone OpenAI. Dan, thanks so much, tracking all the developments and the investments. We're going to continue this conversation in a hot moment. Thanks. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
New York Times
19 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
UEFA European Under-21 Championship: Five players who impressed in the group stage
The Under-21 European Championship invariably showcases Europe's best up-and-coming talent. Over the past 25 years, players including Andrea Pirlo, Petr Cech, Klaas Jan-Huntelaar, Juan Mata, Thiago and Fabian Ruiz have won player of the tournament. Anthony Gordon was the player of the tournament in the 2023 edition as England were crowned champions, but that victory also provided momentum for a certain Cole Palmer, who was then at Manchester City. This year's tournament is taking place in Slovakia and The Athletic has taken a look at five players who stood out in the group stage. The youngest player at the tournament, the 17-year-old has already signed for Chelsea from Sporting CP. He will spend the 2025-26 season at Chelsea and staff from the Premier League side have been in Slovakia to watch his progress. Quenda ended the group stages with three goals and two assists, showing a variety that would serve him well in any league. A left-footed winger, who broke into Sporting's first team as a wing-back, two of Quenda's three goals were scored with his right foot. The power on one of these finishes against Poland was particularly impressive after he faked a shot with his left foot, while his quick finish against Georgia showed his technique in tight spaces. Geovany Quenda magic 🪄🇵🇹#U21EURO — UEFA Men's Youth (@UEFAMensYouth) June 14, 2025 That willingness to use his weaker foot has also been evident, even when he doesn't score. His assists have demonstrated a rare maturity. Rather than engaging defenders with dribbling, Quenda has both threaded and clipped passes in behind from deeper/wider areas for onrushing team-mates to finish. The forward has had multiple senior Portugal call-ups already, but he joined the under-21s for this tournament with the aim of becoming the nation's first Under-21 Euro winners. At 17, he helped Sporting win the league and cup double and understands that team honours are necessary to fulfil the expectations already being made of him. As well as being able to play off both flanks, last season he also made a few appearances as a No 10 for Sporting, but for Portugal he has always operated out wide. One of the older players at the tournament at 23, Woltemade has impressed. The Stuttgart forward, who has interest from multiple London-based Premier League clubs, hit a hat-trick against Slovenia, then added another goal and two assists against the Czech Republic. He was not risked in the final group game against England as head coach Antonio Di Salvo said he was feeling the effects of a knock, but Germany made 11 changes to their line-up anyway. Standing at 6ft 6in (198cm), Woltemade's game is not solely about height. One of his four group stage goals was a header, but his first two came from his more detached role as a second striker. Stuttgart benefited from that heavily last season, with the forward scoring 17 goals in all competitions, as he can often ghost into dangerous areas unmarked, despite his height. Nick Woltemade last time out ⚽️⚽️⚽️#U21EURO — UEFA Men's Youth (@UEFAMensYouth) June 15, 2025 He has also displayed his technical ability in Slovakia, especially in the 4-2 win against the Czech Republic. Receiving the ball in deeper areas, he dribbled through bodies and spread play equally well. Importantly, he appears to be in control of most of the situations he finds himself in, which also leads to more skilful touches to create chances for team-mates. Made by Woltemade, finished by Nebel 🇩🇪#U21EURO — UEFA Men's Youth (@UEFAMensYouth) June 16, 2025 Even so, he still has to deliver in front of goal himself, and that is what he has done. Interestingly, Woltemade featured for Germany's senior team in their Nations League fixtures against Portugal and France earlier this month. That was down to manager Julian Nagelsmann, who wanted to reward Woltemade for his performances last season and to pit him against seasoned European defenders. He performed better against France in a deeper role, which should give those scouting him plenty of encouragement ahead of next season. While he may not have any goals or assists to his name so far, Nottingham Forest's Anderson has been England's standout player in the group stages. The 22-year-old was booked 15 seconds into the opening group game against the Czech Republic, but responded with an exemplary display of defensive discipline and control in possession. Used as one of Lee Carsley's deepest midfielders in a 4-2-2-2, the onus was on him to dictate play, and he delivered. Anderson was always available to receive the ball and play forward, while being quick across the ground to stop attackers and vocal to organise those around him. Carsley reacted by saying that Anderson was playing 'like a senior pro' and that continued into the following games. England didn't score against Slovenia, but he was the source of their best chances, with passes pinged, curled and threaded in behind the back line. The communication that is a natural part of his game also continued, with his instructions to team-mates resulting in turnovers multiple times. Advertisement Anderson had represented Scotland at under-16, 17 and 21 levels but has now decided that England are his international focus. On being tasked with starting attacks from deeper areas than he does at Forest, he said: 'The manager wants me to take control of games. We've got some fantastic attackers and if we've got control, they will get a lot more chances. 'Trying to split defences is a big part of my game. It's something we might lack in football now. That's what I am trying to do, create attacks and try to catch the eye. I love watching Kevin De Bruyne. He creates things and is so good to watch. I try to get fans off their seats and will do everything for the team. I work hard all game and fight for the team.' Like others in the squad, a place in the England seniors is the aim for Anderson. To that end, Carsley pinned up a photo of the World Cup to inspire his young players ahead of this summer's tournament. Denmark were surprising pace-setters in the group stage and Osula was key to that, with three goals and two assists. The Newcastle United forward scored and assisted after being introduced from the bench in the opening match, scored a brace in the second and then assisted again in the third. He was particularly impressive in his only start of the tournament so far — the second game against the Netherlands. Trailing 1-0 to an own goal, he showed good instincts and positioning to head in the equaliser inside the six-yard box, and scored the winner with a strong finish across goal in the second half. As the game went on, his defensive contributions were also vital to Denmark holding onto their lead. Two more goals for William Osula 🇩🇰#U21EURO — UEFA Men's Youth (@UEFAMensYouth) June 16, 2025 Attaining confidence at this tournament was key for Osula. The striker joined Newcastle from Sheffield United for an initial £10milllion last summer but completed just two full matches across his 19 appearances in all competitions. The Athletic have reported that Osula's potential is recognised by the Newcastle coaching staff, but considering his level of involvement last season and with a contract that runs until 2029, he may not be a priority in Eddie Howe's squad right now. So the 21-year-old's performances in Slovakia could help showcase him as a worthwhile loanee for the 2025-26 season. Meanwhile, team-mate Conrad Harder, of Sporting CP, shone in Denmark's final group game with clinical finishes off both feet. His second was created by Osula, who had drifted out to the right before finding him with a ball inside. Conrad Harder double 🔥🇩🇰#U21EURO — UEFA Men's Youth (@UEFAMensYouth) June 19, 2025 Not as regular a starter as Viktor Gyokeres, the 20-year-old nevertheless scored 13 goals in all competitions for Sporting last year. Agoume impressed in a deep midfield role for France. One of the more experienced players at the tournament, aged 23, he has just finished his first full season with Sevilla in La Liga. The midfielder was willing to show for the ball when necessary and brave enough to play forward when he had it, showing nice disguise on some of his passes. He assisted France's equaliser in their late 3-2 comeback win over Georgia with a left-footed reverse pass from just outside the box, showing great vision. He captained the side in their final group game, a 4-1 win against Poland, as they secured a place in the quarter-finals against Denmark. Agoume has shielded his backline well and was largely proactive in his challenges rather than reactive. His midfield partner, Djaoui Cisse of Rennes, also impressed against Denmark with two exceptional goals. One was curled into the top corner with his right foot and the other was driven in low with his left. Djaoui Cisse's sublime strike 😮💨 Goal of the Round contender ✅#U21GOTT | @AlipayPlus — UEFA Men's Youth (@UEFAMensYouth) June 17, 2025 Cisse is 21 and broke into the Rennes first team at the back end of last season, making 16 Ligue 1 appearances. Of the nations represented here, only France and Denmark face each other in this weekend's quarter-finals. Quenda's Portugal kick off proceedings on Saturday against the Netherlands, which will be followed by Spain against England. Denmark against France is the first game on Sunday and will be followed by Germany against Italy. (Top photos: Getty Images)
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
AI Weekly: Altman says Meta trying to recruit OpenAI workers
From how Amazon's CEO says artificial intelligence will reshape the e-commerce giant's workforce to claims Meta is offering big bonuses to recruit top talent, we round up the week's big stories from the AI revolution. Trevor Koroll reports.
New York Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Franco Mastantuono is 17 years old and cost Real Madrid €63m. Here's what makes him special
It is the sign of the times when an upcoming football talent once wanted to be a YouTube star. 'Hello friends, welcome to my channel,' a 10-year-old Franco Mastantuono said as he started his first YouTube video in 2017. As a kid, Mastantuono wanted to be a YouTuber at all costs, but despite having fun making the videos alongside his brother and sister, his footballing talent meant that he has become the narrative rather than the narrator. Mastantuono began his career at River de Azul, where his father was the coach, before joining River Plate in 2019. The move could have happened two years earlier when Mastantuono impressed on a trial in Azul and was invited to go to River. The young Argentinian impressed in River's youth teams, climbing up the ranks until he made his first-team debut in January 2024 at 16 years of age. The following month he scored his first goal with River in a 3-0 victory against Excursionistas in the cup, becoming the team's youngest ever goalscorer — two dates which are tattooed on Mastantuono's left arm. Mastantuono's talent and performances helped him establish himself as a regular in River's starting line-up this season, while catching the eyes of the biggest teams in Europe. Earlier this week, Real Madrid completed the signing of the Argentina forward on a six-year deal, paying €63.2million in total, with River receiving €45m and the remaining €18.2m being distributed between the Spanish tax authorities (€11.8m), the players' association, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and additional fees. Advertisement Mastantuono will join Madrid on August 14 — his 18th birthday — which has allowed him to play with River in the Club World Cup, where he can showcase his talent to a wider audience and test himself against different teams. This season, Mastantuono has predominantly played on the right side of River's front three, and that was again the case in their Club World Cup win against Urawa Red Diamonds on Tuesday. However, instead of being an out-and-out winger in their 4-3-3, Mastantuono usually roams inside the pitch with River's full-backs pushing high. That was the case for River's opening goal against Urawa too, as Mastantuono drove inside and then switched the play with a looping pass. Marcos Acuna then crossed for Facundo Colidio to head home. On other occasions this season, River's right midfielder has switched positions with Mastantuono to put the 17-year-old in dangerous positions between the lines. As a playmaker, this role in possession suits Mastantuono and plays to his strengths. His profile is that of a No 10 or a narrow forward, who is highly technical, thrives in tight spaces and has an incredible shot on him. Starting in the half-space, Mastantuono likes to drop and present himself as a passing option for his team-mates. That is complemented by his surreal ability to pass or dribble on the turn, which allows him to bypass defenders even if he can only see them in his peripheral vision. Between the lines, Mastantuono is constantly aware of his surroundings and receives the ball with the optimal foot that allows him to shield it while attacking the space. On top of that, his ability to control the ball with either foot gives him an advantage as he can take the next action with the other one, saving a fraction of a second before the opponent closes down. In this example, against Gimnasia in April, Mastantuono receives the ball from Kevin Castano with his right foot… … and immediately dribbles with his left to create a shooting angle as the opposing defender moves up. The River forward narrowly misses the target, but it's important to highlight his actions before the shot. Considering the distance between himself and the defender, if Mastantuono initially receives the ball with his left foot, he would need more time to use the same foot to create the shooting angle, allowing the opponent to close down. Controlling the ball with one foot and doing the action with the other is a signature of Mastantuono's game, which allows him to create better passing and shooting angles. Advertisement The River forward likes one-v-one situations and his dribbling is more about keeping the ball close to his feet while changing its direction in a small area. This is another attribute which helps him create the angle for a pass or a shot. In that same match against Gimnasia, Mastantuono scored by dribbling inside from the right wing, before striking the ball into the bottom corner. The River forward initially keeps the ball close while taking multiple touches… … and chooses the moment the defender has his body weight on his right leg to dribble inside with a stronger touch, before dribbling past another player and making it 2-0. Mastantuono's attacking profile functions in a way that plays to the strengths of his strongest asset: his ball striking. The small spaces the 17-year-old creates are complemented by his incredible shooting technique which enables him to strike the ball with the perfect mix of power and placement. That is obvious in his set-piece deliveries as well, which is best encapsulated by his free-kick goal in the 2-1 victory against Boca Juniors in April. Off the ball, Mastantuono is smart when it comes to attacking the spaces between the lines… … or behind the opponent's defence. In this example, from the 4-1 victory against Velez Sarsfield last month, River's centre-forward, Sebastian Driussi, drops and moves the opponent's left centre-back out of position. Mastantuono spots the gap and attacks the space in Velez's defence, but Enzo Perez's pass is overhit. Velez's goalkeeper collects the ball, but in a bizarre situation drops it, and Mastantuono's run means that he is in a position to collect the loose ball. The River forward then plays the ball back to Ignacio Fernandez, who curls it into the empty net. Mastantuono was fortunate to record this as an assist, but it's the perfect reward to his untiring off-ball movement. In terms of his passing, the young forward is able to play line-splitting passes at the snap of his fingers, but knowing when to pick the runner instead of dribbling or taking a shot should improve as he matures. Advertisement Another area of development is his lack of aggression when attacking crosses. Mastantuono is smart in his positioning inside the penalty area, but he needs to be more assertive when attacking the back post. The most interesting part of Mastantuono's profile is that he can be developed into a goalscoring forward or a playmaker, and as a best case, both at once. Instead of hosting his own YouTube channel, Mastantuono's name is now plastered all over those belonging to other people. Compilations of his goals and skills have been flooding the platform, particularly ahead of his move to the biggest football club in the world.
