MiniMax and ByteDance have recently launched large-scale stock option incentive programs, reflecting the intense talent competition in the AI industry.
According to a report by SciTech Daily, MiniMax has started issuing additional stock options, with incentive amounts ranging from tens of thousands to millions of US dollars, covering core employees in positions such as algorithm engineers, marketing personnel, and functional roles. The company hopes to bind the interests of core employees with long-term development through this mechanism, building a "partner-style" cooperation relationship.
ByteDance's strategy is more aggressive, offering new stock option incentives to large model technology employees in its Seed department. Employees can receive between 90,000 to 130,000 RMB in stock options per month, using a fast vesting method that distributes them monthly. This short-cycle incentive model highlights the company's urgent need for talent retention.
These incentive measures are driven by the severe talent shortage in the AI industry. According to a Maimai report, the average monthly salary for AI positions has reached 47,000 RMB, and intern starting salaries start at 4,000 RMB. In leading model enterprises, annual salaries exceeding one million RMB for PhDs and senior algorithm engineers have become common.
Globally, tech companies are competing for AI talent through high salaries and equity incentives. This competition not only increases salary levels but also changes the relationship model between companies and employees, shifting from traditional employment relationships to a partnership model.
Notably, this intense incentive competition may bring some potential problems. Over-reliance on monetary incentives may increase talent mobility, making it easy for employees to switch jobs when higher salaries are offered. At the same time, the rapid stock option vesting mechanism may retain people in the short term, but it could also affect employees' commitment to the company's long-term development.
The talent battle in the AI industry reflects the urgency of technological development. However, companies need to balance short-term attraction with long-term stability when formulating incentive policies, avoiding falling into a pure salary competition cycle.
From an industry development perspective, this high-investment talent strategy will accelerate AI technological innovation, but it may also lead to excessive concentration of resources in a few leading companies, affecting the healthy development of the entire industry ecosystem.
