Interns at the Center of the AI Talent Clash

As major players in artificial intelligence vie for superior talent, internship opportunities are proving to be lucrative 'stepping stones' rather than mere placeholder roles.

The salary packages for temporary, foundational roles within the AI sector have now become comparable to the earnings people typically receive in full-time positions across other professions.

Prominent companies in the tech industry, renowned for their expertise in AI development, have been known to offer exceedingly generous salary agreements to attract leading researchers and engineers — a scenario often dubbed as 'talent warfare'.

For instance, just this past June, Meta made headlines with a substantial $14.3 billion spend on Scale AI which many perceived as a strategy to secure CEO Alexandr Wang's talent. Concurrently, Google paid $2.4 billion acquiring skilled professionals from Windsurf. Meanwhile, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman pointed out that Meta attempted to lure employees with $100 million signing bonuses, a tactic that OpenAI eventually countered.

Even within smaller startup environments, individuals in lead AI roles can secure salaries ranging between $300,000 and $400,000, as noted by Shawn Thorne, managing director at True Search.

Although making these high-profile hires requires significant investment, these AI industry front-runners are equally committed to discovering fresh talent.

Business Insider curated a list highlighting some of the most lucrative internship, fellowship, and residency opportunities on offer from AI powerhouses like OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind, and Meta in 2026.

AI Safety Fellowship at Anthropic

Anthropic's AI Safety Fellows Program is a brief, yet intense, four-month full-time opportunity that aims to nurture research talents and expedite AI safety research, according to their official site. This initiative seeks to support fellows in publishing research; past cohorts have had over 80% of their participants successfully release papers.

The fellowship provides direct guidance from acclaimed AI experts like Jan Leike, Sam Bowman, Sara Price, Alex Tamkin, and Nina Panickssery. Participants will receive a weekly stipend along with significant funding for computing resources and workspace access in either Berkeley or London.

Applications for upcoming batches starting in May and July 2026 are open until January 12, 2026.

OpenAI's Residency Program

The six-month OpenAI Residency immerses participants into full-time positions within the organization, actively engaging them in trailblazing AI projects. These residents join OpenAI's research groups to contribute to groundbreaking work.

The residency offers mentorship, involvement in ongoing inquiry, and a potential pathway to permanent employment afterward, with monthly compensation set at $18,300.

Based in San Francisco, candidates are expected to possess strong coding abilities, a robust understanding of advanced mathematics, and the skill to manage complex projects independently.

OpenAI plans to commence the application review and interview process in January 2026, which will likely include numerous technical evaluations, with flexible residency start dates thereafter.

Research Opportunities for Students at Google

Google's Student Researcher Program, with applications accepted year-round until July 17, is tailored for Ph.D. students in domains such as computer science. The program is flexible, integrating project-focused research roles throughout Google divisions like DeepMind and Google Research.

Positions offer a base remuneration between $113,000 and $150,000 based on factors like location and experience.

Internships for Research Scientists at Meta

Meta presents a range of research internships spanning 12 to 24 weeks, with rewards ranging from $7,650 to over $12,000 per month, contingent upon experience and geographic considerations.

Research domains cover specialized areas such as neural rendering, natural language processing, generative modeling, and computer vision.

Meta also provides opportunities for visiting Ph.D. scholars from respected institutions like the University of Washington and Carnegie Mellon University, allowing them to collaborate on research part-time during academic sessions and full-time in the summer.

The November 17 opening for the 2026-2027 cohort will remain until the closing date on January 9, with the program kicking off in the autumn of 2026.