Imagine getting laid off on Monday – then receiving a job offer on Tuesday with double your old salary. This shocking scenario just became reality for 600 Meta employees caught in the tech giant’s latest AI purge.
The Golden Lifeline
While Meta handed out pink slips, Indian-origin entrepreneur Sudarshan Kamath threw a life preserver to drowning workers. His San Francisco startup Smallest AI announced immediate openings for all 600 laid-off Meta staff with jaw-dropping salaries:
- $200,000 – $600,000 base pay
- Flexible equity packages
- Positions in cutting-edge speech AI research
Laid off from Meta? We are hiring in speech team… Must be – fkin smart and hungry. DM me.
— Sudarshan Kamath (@kamath_sutra) October 23, 2025
Who Qualifies?
Kamath isn’t just collecting resumes. He wants elite talent with specific skills:
| Required Expertise | Experience Level |
|---|---|
| Speech evaluation systems | Advanced |
| Speech generation tech | 2+ years |
| Full-duplex speech systems | Project leadership |
Inside Meta’s Bloodbath
The layoffs hit three key areas according to internal memes:
- Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) unit
- AI infrastructure teams
- Product development groups
But here’s what stings: Zuckerberg’s pet project – the TBD Lab filled with expensive new hires – remained untouched. This created instant tension:
“The Billionaire Forgets”
On anonymous workplace app Blind, Meta employees erupted:
- “Imagine working here for years earning $100K, then being fired by someone who joined last month making millions”
- “We’re not just spreadsheet rows – we have families to feed”
- “Turns out 600 non-Chinese were in our AI division. Coincidence?”
The anger spread to social media where commenters noted the painful irony: Even AI specialists aren’t safe from AI-driven corporate decisions.
Why Startups Are Pouncing
Smallest AI’s hiring spree reveals three brutal truths about today’s tech landscape:
- Big Tech’s Loss = Startup Gain: Giants like Meta and Google are trimming AI teams while hungry startups snatch top talent
- The Speech AI Gold Rush: With voice tech booming, specialists command premium salaries
- India’s Rising Tech Clout: Indian entrepreneurs like Kamath now lead crucial Silicon Valley innovations
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t just about 600 jobs. According to LiveMint’s tech industry report, over 4,000 AI-related positions have been cut across major firms in 2025 alone.
Yet startups raised $12 billion in AI funding during the same period. The talent shuffle reveals a dramatic power shift:
| Company Type | AI Hiring Trend | Salary Range |
|---|---|---|
| Big Tech (Meta/Google) | Down 18% | $120K-$350K |
| AI Startups | Up 42% | $200K-$600K+ |
What’s Next for Meta’s Exiles?
Laid-off employees face tough choices:
- Take Kamath’s Deal: Join a risky startup for potentially massive rewards
- Wait for Severance: Meta offers 16 weeks pay through November 21
- Internal Transfer: Some may find roles elsewhere in Meta
As one former Meta AI researcher told
Kamath’s own journey explains the hunger. The IIT Madras graduate previously sold his last AI startup for $300 million before age 30. His LinkedIn profile shows seven patents in voice recognition tech – exactly the expertise he’s hiring for.
The Human Cost
Between the salary numbers and industry analysis, real lives hang in the balance. Software engineer Aisha Patel (name changed) shared her 72-hour rollercoaster:
“Monday: Termination email during my daughter’s birthday dinner. Tuesday: Recruiter offers triple my Meta salary. Wednesday: Crying while packing my desk, wondering if startups are stable enough for single moms.”
Relocation adds another layer. Many Meta AI staff moved to expensive cities like Menlo Park. Now they must decide:
| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Join Smallest AI | Higher pay, exciting work | Startup risks, possible long hours |
| Find another big tech job | Stability, familiar culture | Lower salaries, fewer AI roles |
| Return to India | Lower costs, family support | Pay cuts up to 60% |
The India Connection
This talent war accelerates India’s rise in global AI. While US firms cut jobs:
- TCS announced 25,000 new AI positions in Bengaluru
- Infosys opened a $250 million AI research center
- Indian startups raised $3.2 billion for AI projects last quarter
As Meta’s ex-employees weigh options, many consider returning home. “India’s AI scene is booming,” says tech recruiter Priya Mehta. “We’re seeing 30% more US-to-India reversions than last year.”
Is Speech AI Worth The Hype?
Smallest AI’s focus area explains the salaries. Voice technology is exploding:
- Chatbot fatigue makes voice interfaces appealing
- Call centers need AI that understands accents and emotions
- Medical fields use speech AI for patient screenings
Kamath’s team reportedly made breakthroughs in “emotionally intelligent” voice bots. One demo clip shows AI detecting sarcasm – something even humans struggle with online.
The Dark Side
Not everyone celebrates this talent grab. Ethicists warn:
- Voice cloning could worsen scams and misinformation
- AI might replace human customer service jobs entirely
- Startups move fast – sometimes too fast for safety checks
When asked about these concerns, Kamath tweeted: “Great power requires great responsibility. We’re hiring ethicists too at $400K. Serious inquiries only.”
What This Means For You
Even if you’re not an AI expert, this shakeup matters:
- Tech Workers: Salaries could rise across the board as startups compete
- Investors: AI startup valuations may keep climbing
- Consumers: Better voice tech coming to devices near you
The final irony? Meta will likely need to rehire similar talent in 2-3 years. By then, these experts could be multi-millionaires from startup stock – or looking for work again in tech’s endless cycle of reinvention.
As the sun sets in Silicon Valley tonight, 600 people face choices that could change their lives – and the future of how machines understand us. One thing’s clear: In the AI gold rush, the pickaxes are worth more than the mines.
