On one hand, the world faces layoffs as thousands of jobs are lost to AI, while on the other hand, top AI talents are benefiting from the shift among big companies. Tech giants like Meta, OpenAI, Google, xAI, and others are poaching each other’s AI talent. Just a few days ago (August 25), Meta’s seven-figure ($1 million) top hire of 2025, Rishabh Agarwal, left the company after just 5 months.
Now, we have Chaya Nayak, another high-profile employee and Director of Product Management for Generative AI, who shocked Meta by joining OpenAI. What’s interesting is that all these departures happened only after Meta announced a team reshuffle. Which brings to an important question: Is everything okay at Meta? Is this a typical exit or something Meta should worry about? Learn more.
What Happened at Meta?
Chaya Nayak is an Indian-origin long-time executive of Meta. She worked for Meta for nearly 9 years, taking key roles, and then she called it quits on August 27, 2025. Here’s her timeline with Meta:
- She joined Meta in October 2016 as Head of Data for Good till June 2018.
- She worked to create Disaster Maps, which are used to help different communities during times of crisis, such as natural disasters.
- Later in June 2018, she moved into a new role, Product Manager & Head of Open Research & Transparency, till May 2023 (worked for 5 years).
- In May 2023, she became the Director of Product Management for Generative AI.
- According to her LinkedIn, she was part of Meta’s Llama models (these are Meta’s advanced AI tools, just like how ChatGPT is for OpenAI). In August 2025, Chaya Nayak was hired by OpenAI.
Chaya Nayak at OpenAI
She posted a long, descriptive update on her LinkedIn on August 27 about her departure from Meta and arrival at OpenAI.
“At the same time, I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead. Today, I’m joining OpenAI to work with Irina Kofman on Special Initiatives – exploring new opportunities at the frontier of AI. It feels like the perfect next chapter: to take everything I’ve learned, and pour it into work that will help define what comes next for technology and society…”
According to her:
- She has officially joined OpenAI and will be working with Irina Kofman in the Special Initiatives team.
- She’ll explore new experimental AI projects at OpenAI.
Why Does This Matter to Meta?
Although Meta is hiring top talent (50 AI hires from its rivals in 2025), it’s also losing talent. According to Wired Magazine, at least three high-profile AI experts left the company. And more specifically, from Meta’s Superintelligence Labs team, and in less than a month:
- Avi Verma, a renowned AI Researcher hired by Meta, left the company to rejoin OpenAI.
- Ethan Knight worked with OpenAI at the start of his career, then moved to Tesla, joined Meta, and left within a month to rejoin OpenAI.
- Another popular name is Rishabh Agarwal, a man who received a $1 million package and left Meta within five months of joining.
- And now Meta has also lost Chaya Nayak, too.
With Meta losing its talent, will it still be able to create the world’s most powerful AI, ‘Superintelligence AI’, successfully?
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