OpenAI, Anthropic poach Big Tech executives to expand in Asia

OpenAI and Anthropic are competing for experienced technology executives based in Asia, hiring away regional leaders from Meta, Google, Microsoft, and other established tech companies. The moves are part of a broader push by both AI labs to expand their presence in India and Southeast Asia, regions seen as key growth markets for AI products and services.

The hires reflect an intensifying talent war in the AI industry, as leading labs try to secure executives who understand local markets, regulatory environments, and business relationships. This follows a pattern already seen in AI research hiring, now extending to commercial and go-to-market leadership roles.