• The Shift
  • Posts
  • Altman calls out Meta’s AI grab

Altman calls out Meta’s AI grab

Plus, 🎬 ChatGPT + CapCut = Instant AI Videos, OpenAI Quietly Builds an AI Consulting Powerhouse, and more!


Hello there! Ready to dive into another upgrading, Mind-boggling, and Value-filled Shift?

Today we have:

🔥 Altman Fires Back: OpenAI Culture vs. Meta’s Millions

🎬 ChatGPT + CapCut = Instant AI Videos

💼 OpenAI Quietly Builds an AI Consulting Powerhouse

🔨Tools and Shifts you cannot miss

🔥 Altman Fires Back: OpenAI Culture vs. Meta’s Millions

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman just called out Meta’s aggressive AI poaching tactics in a fiery Slack message, pitching OpenAI’s long-term AGI mission as superior to short-term paydays. As Meta rolls out its new Superintelligence Labs, Altman doubled down on OpenAI’s culture, compensation, and roadmap to keep top researchers from jumping ship. 

The Shift:

1. Meta’s Offers Rejected by Top Talent - Altman claimed Meta offered up to $300M over four years to lure OpenAI staff. Despite that, he said the company “didn’t get their top people” and had to dig deep into their list. Eleven hires were confirmed, but OpenAI suggests the real impact is smaller than it looks.

2. OpenAI Reevaluates Compensation Strategy - In the Slack message, Altman said OpenAI is reviewing pay across its research division. He argued OpenAI stock has “much, much more upside” than Meta’s. 

3. Culture Clash: “Missionaries vs Mercenaries” - Altman warned that Meta’s recruiting style would create “deep cultural problems.” He said OpenAI’s mission-driven approach will outlast Meta’s shifting priorities and “flavor of the week” mentality. 

This isn’t just a talent war; it’s a fight for the soul of AGI. OpenAI is betting that vision and culture will outperform massive checks in the long run. But with Meta flexing both capital and leadership, the next few hires could define the direction of AI’s frontier.


🎬 ChatGPT + CapCut = Instant AI Videos

You don’t need editing software anymore. With CapCut’s GPT inside ChatGPT, you can script, design, and voice-over videos in minutes.

How to get started:

1️⃣ Go to chat.openai.com → Click Explore GPTs

2️⃣ Search for “CapCut” and open it

3️⃣ Drop a prompt like:

“Make a 15-sec TikTok about ‘5 ways to reduce Meta ad CPA’ for DTC founders”

CapCut GPT will instantly:

→ Write the script

→ Suggest templates

→ Auto-generate visuals and voiceover

Use it for:

  • Ad creatives

  • Product explainers

  • Content repurposing

  • Daily social videos

⚡ Fast, free, and no editing skills needed.

💼 OpenAI Quietly Builds an AI Consulting Powerhouse

OpenAI is no longer just selling models; it's selling transformation. Behind the scenes, the company is assembling a hands-on consulting force to deliver AI systems built from scratch, customized for enterprise realities. The price of entry? At least $10 million, and often much more.

The Shift:

1. A New Elite Services Arm Emerges - OpenAI has recruited specialists, many from Palantir, to embed directly with enterprise clients. These engineers help build custom tools and model workflows that go far beyond plug-and-play GPT. It's a full-stack service built to operationalize frontier AI across real-world systems.

2. Deep Data Partnerships, Not Just API Access - Clients aren’t just fine-tuning—they’re co-developing. OpenAI works with labeling and domain experts like Snorkel AI to train models on internal data, rules, and goals. 

3. Multi-Million Contracts Are Already Live - OpenAI has secured deals with Morgan Stanley, Grab, and even the Pentagon, including a $200M defense contract. Each engagement involves long-term collaboration and significant capital. 

This isn’t about prompts anymore, it’s about control. OpenAI is positioning itself as the firm that builds the AI backbone for institutions, from finance to defense. And in a market where everyone wants proprietary advantage, custom AI might be the biggest flex of all.


🔨AI Tools for the Shift

🧠 Gurubase – Shortcut search for devs and tech pros. AI-powered answers, docs, and tools in one place.

🧾 ScanRelief – Convert receipts to Excel and rename files with smart automation. Perfect for expense workflows.

🧬 Sensay – Create AI replicas that preserve your knowledge and values. A digital legacy built with personality.

🗣️ Mumble Note: AI Voice Notetaker – Turn your voice into structured notes and action items. Never lose a thought again.


🚀Quick Shifts

🤖 Amazon deployed its one millionth robot and introduced DeepFleet, a generative AI model that boosts warehouse robot routing efficiency by 10%. 

📝 X will begin letting AI chatbots generate Community Notes starting July 1, allowing users to build note-writing bots using LLMs like Grok or ChatGPT, with human review still required for publication.

📩 Grammarly is acquiring Superhuman to expand its AI productivity platform, transforming email into an agent-powered workspace where users can automate tasks like triaging, writing, scheduling, and collaborating across inboxes.

🤖 Cursor has brought on Boris Cherny and Cat Wu, former Claude Code team members from Anthropic, to lead development of new “agent-like” features aimed at advancing its AI-powered coding experience.


That’s all for today’s edition see you tomorrow as we track down and get you all that matters in the daily AI Shift!

If you loved this edition let us know how much:

Forward it to your pal to give them a daily dose of the shift so they can 👇

Reply

or to participate.