ByteDance, Tencent step up AI talent battle amid reported DeepSeek loss

Talent scramble

It has been reported that a lead researcher from DeepSeek, Guo Daya, has moved to ByteDance (字节跳动)’s Seed AI development team — a move that underscores how fiercely China’s tech giants are competing for AI engineers. LatePost claimed the scientist was offered as much as 100 million yuan (US$14.7 million) a year. ByteDance’s Douyin Group vice‑president Li Liang denied that figure in a social media post, saying the Seed team “is placed under the same compensation framework which includes cash remuneration as well as ByteDance equity and Doubao‑related stock options,” and noting some staff could realise much larger sums after exercising long‑dated options.

The South China Morning Post could not verify the LatePost report. Guo’s name had not appeared in ByteDance’s internal personnel system at the time of reporting, a company employee said — though new hires sometimes use pseudonyms, complicating confirmation. Rival Tencent (腾讯) and other major firms are reportedly ratcheting up recruitment and poaching, while start‑ups and overseas returnees continue to reshape the labour market.

Why this matters

Why the scramble now? China’s push to build sovereign AI capability is colliding with global tech tensions. With US export controls on advanced chips and heightened geopolitical scrutiny, domestic firms are placing a premium on senior engineering talent and rapid product development. The tussle for researchers is thus not only about pay. It’s about control of models, IP and the future commercialisation pipeline.

The high‑profile personnel disputes and disputed pay claims expose another truth: money can attract talent, but retention depends on longer‑term incentives, equity structures and regulatory confidence. As ByteDance, Tencent and others race to hire, the contest will shape how China’s AI ecosystem consolidates — and who ultimately sets technical and commercial standards in the market.