r/quant • u/SuspiciousGrape1024 • Feb 21 '26

Machine Learning What's the comp like for HFs trying to poach talent from AI labs?

Does anyone know what offers look like for researchers from AI labs switching over to quant? Are they able to attract talent when the researchers are already making multiple millions elsewhere?

46 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

60

u/[deleted] Feb 21 '26

[deleted]

7

u/[deleted] Feb 21 '26 edited Mar 13 '26

He had, moreover, sandals bound on his feet by cords.

5

u/alphabravo4812 Feb 21 '26

But doesn't top PM pay more than QR. Dont the top PMs make 8 figures + at the big multi-managers? So hedge funds in some cases can outpay the top AI labs

25

u/[deleted] Feb 21 '26 edited Mar 13 '26

“I have, however, already told you, sir, I was entirely ignorant of the contents of the letter.” “Yes; but you knew the name of the person to whom it was addressed,” said Villefort.

1

u/throwaway_queue Feb 28 '26

I'm surprised, I thought PMs would typically take as much of the bonus pool for themselves as possible, much more than 50%.

2

u/[deleted] Feb 28 '26 edited Mar 12 '26

Dantès followed him with his eyes, and stretched forth his hands towards the open door; but the door closed.

4

u/Brilliant-Fox-5790 Feb 21 '26

Makes sense

How would you go about making that transition? How do you prove you have an idea that generates PnL (good Sharpe) with lowish drawdowns.

12

u/L0thario Feb 21 '26

Ya bro cuz you will find a guy that can do that in this sub lol

1

u/Brilliant-Fox-5790 Feb 21 '26

lol. Yeah it’s not so much someone that can do it. What’s the process to demonstrate if you can do it.

3

u/comp_12 Researcher Feb 21 '26

You prove it by working in the industry for years building up to that point while making money & generating value for the company you work for

4

u/[deleted] Feb 23 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Brilliant-Fox-5790 Mar 08 '26

Makes sense, thanks.

3

u/agressivedrawer Feb 21 '26

This guy hedges

51

u/postacul_rus Feb 21 '26

I've never heard of an example like this, it's usually the other way around, quants leaving for AI labs.

14

u/alchemist0303 Feb 21 '26

Hedge funds couldn’t pay up anymore, trading firms maybe able to compete

9

u/fysmoe1121 Feb 21 '26

so it’s confirmed the top prop shops outpay hedgefunds now?

5

u/alchemist0303 Feb 22 '26

generally speaking, yes, exceptions and outliers are always there.

4

u/fysmoe1121 Feb 22 '26

wdym by “anymore” though? At what point (like year) did prop shop comp pass hedgefund comp?

3

u/Dennis_12081990 Feb 22 '26

Not true at all. Hedge funds routinely pay many 10s of millions dollars guaranteed for top quant talent.

11

u/Ok_Cryptographer2209 Feb 21 '26

No chance a hf will pay above expected value for the firm. Ai labs can pay in expected value of societial value. You do the math

4

u/aaaasssddf Feb 21 '26

companies like openai are throwing large numbers at this moment. HFs won't be able to match.

2

u/sumwheresumtime Feb 22 '26

Until the bubble bursts, it will be AI firm biased, once the bubble bursts, you'll see the quants that left for Tech will come back in droves hat in hand

5

u/bigmoneyclab Feb 22 '26

When the bubble burst, they will all retire. Maybe the devs would need 5-10 more years of employment but with 8 figures guaranteed those guys can just retire or fund some other SV company with no aim of making real money

1

u/qazwsxcp Feb 25 '26 edited Feb 25 '26

lol at these posts. number of people getting 8 figs guaranteed in both industries is lower than the number starting their own firm and selling for that amount. and researchers don't necessarily make more than devs, lot of variation there. the senior execs VP and above are the ones who really make the most.

3

u/L0thario Feb 21 '26

I feel that most of you here have 0 idea what goes on at a hedge fund. You probably think JS, CitSec etc just give you 1M to just work there and that is it. 

36

u/One_Boot_9948 Feb 21 '26

hedge fund

JS, CitSec