Lucas Beyer, a leading AI researcher known for his work at Google Brain, DeepMind, and most recently OpenAI’s Zurich office, found himself at the center of industry buzz in 2025—when Meta came calling, this time from the very top. CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally reached out to recruit Beyer, years after the company had overlooked his original job application.Along with former colleagues Alexander Kolesnikov and Xiaohua Zhai, Beyer was reportedly offered a staggering $100 million signing package—a figure that quickly grabbed headlines, though Beyer publicly dismissed it as “fake news.”The moment marked a striking full-circle turn for someone whose journey into artificial intelligence began far from the spotlight. Growing up in Belgium, Beyer didn’t dream of cutting-edge labs or Silicon Valley prestige—he simply wanted to make video games. That early fascination with computers evolved into a deep curiosity about how machines learn, perceive, and make decisions. Long before AI became one of the world’s most hyped technologies, it had already taken root in his imagination.What started as a childhood interest ultimately led him to become one of the most sought-after minds in the field—pursued by the very companies that had once passed him over.
Engineering a new direction
When it came time for college, Beyer chose RWTH Aachen University, one of Germany’s most prestigious institutions, known for its rigorous engineering programs. He enrolled in mechanical engineering, a logical and respected path, but it wasn’t long before he started wandering off the syllabus.While his coursework focused on structures, systems, and machines, his interests pulled him elsewhere—into the world of machine learning. He began experimenting on the side, exploring algorithms and datasets like someone teaching themselves a new language. There was no formal roadmap, no clear end goal. Just a genuine desire to understand.
The first setback
Eager to turn his growing passion for AI into a career, Beyer applied for a software engineering position at Google. It was an ambitious step—one that many dream of—but the response was immediate and unequivocal: rejection. No interview, no follow-up.Instead of letting that “no” close a door, Beyer saw it as a cue to dig deeper. He returned to RWTH Aachen, this time enrolling in a Ph.D. program to strengthen his foundation. His initial focus was quantum physics, a field known for its complexity and prestige. But the further he went, the clearer it became that the subject didn’t truly resonate with him. It felt distant from the kind of work that had first inspired him.Realizing this, he made a bold pivot. He shifted his research to computer vision and robotic perception—areas where artificial intelligence meets the physical world. It was here that everything started to align. The work was hands-on, intuitive, and connected back to his earliest fascination with smart machines and learning systems.This change wasn’t just about swapping research topics; it marked a turning point. Beyer stopped pursuing what looked good on paper and began investing in what genuinely motivated him. That decision—grounded in self-awareness rather than prestige—would go on to define the rest of his career.
Back to Google: This time, with a yes
With a clearer direction and growing expertise in AI, Beyer secured two competitive summer internships at Google during his Ph.D.—experiences that went far beyond padding his resume. They gave him hands-on exposure to real-world research and helped him prove his potential in one of the most demanding tech environments.By the time he reapplied for a full-time position in 2018, things had changed. This time, Google said yes. And it wasn’t just them. Offers started pouring in from nearly every major player in the AI industry. After years of quietly doing the work, Beyer had become one of the most sought-after talents in the field.There was, however, one notable silence. Among the flurry of interest, Meta—the one company he’d applied to but never heard back from—stood out for its absence. But Beyer didn’t dwell on it. His focus was already shifting to what lay ahead: cutting-edge research, new challenges, and a growing influence in the world of AI.
DeepMind and the six-year climb
Beyer joined Google Brain, and later DeepMind, as a staff research scientist—one of the most prestigious titles in AI. For six years, he worked on some of the field’s most cutting-edge challenges, helping push the boundaries of machine learning and AI perception.He wasn’t doing this alone. At DeepMind, he found close collaborators in Alexander Kolesnikov and Xiaohua Zhai, two researchers whose paths would continue to intertwine with him in the years to come.The work was challenging, high-impact, and often behind the scenes. But inside the research world, Beyer’s name was quickly rising. He wasn’t just following trends—he was helping shape them.
OpenAI and a new beginning
Then, in 2024, Beyer and his two colleagues made a bold move. They left DeepMind to help launch OpenAI’s Zurich office, a brand-new outpost for one of the world’s most influential AI companies.It wasn’t just a job change. It was a leap into leadership—building a team, setting a vision, and helping define how OpenAI would grow its footprint in Europe.In a field where many follow, Beyer was choosing to lead.
Full circle at Meta
Then came a surprising twist—one that even Lucas Beyer likely didn’t see coming.After years of silence, Meta, the company that once overlooked his job application, reached out in 2025—this time, at the very top. CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally extended an offer, not just to Beyer, but to his former DeepMind and OpenAI Zurich colleagues, Alexander Kolesnikov and Xiaohua Zhai.The trio accepted. In a full-circle moment, Beyer went from being ignored by Meta to being handpicked by its CEO to join the company’s elite AI team—marking a significant career milestone in an already remarkable journey.Lucas Beyer’s story isn’t a traditional success narrative. It’s not about straight-A report cards or perfectly planned career moves. It’s about curiosity, adaptability, and the ability to pivot when something doesn’t feel right.He didn’t force a fit with quantum physics. He didn’t let a Google rejection define him. He chased the questions that fascinated him—and trusted that the right opportunities would follow.Now, as one of the most sought-after minds in AI, Beyer is doing exactly what he dreamed of as a kid—only instead of making games, he’s helping shape the future of intelligence itself.And maybe that’s the real lesson here: the path to your biggest “yes” often starts with a bold “no”—and what you choose to do after it.
