Tencent hires top OpenAI researcher: report

Chinese tech giant Tencent has recruited a prominent artificial intelligence researcher from OpenAI, according to a recent report by Bloomberg News. Yao Shunyu, who previously worked at OpenAI and Google, has joined the Shenzhen-based company to work on integrating AI into its services.

The move represents one of the most significant talent transfers from the US AI sector to China amid intense global competition for artificial intelligence expertise. While exact terms were not disclosed, sources indicated Yao's compensation package could reach up to 100 million yuan (£11 million), states the report.

Tencent has pushed back on reports about the hiring, posting a screenshot of a media headline about Yao's appointment stamped with "rumour" on its WeChat account, though without specifying which details were inaccurate. OpenAI confirmed to Bloomberg Yao's departure but did not comment on his destination.

Yao specialises in AI agents and has co-authored multiple research papers in the field. He holds a Computer Science PhD from Princeton University and previously studied at China's prestigious Tsinghua University, adds the report.

Neither Yao nor Tencent responded to Bloomberg's requests for comment.