A widely circulated screenshot showed an embodied intelligence company offering 10.5 million yuan in annual compensation for an AI algorithm expert, with a 26% headhunting fee generating a 2.73 million yuan company placement charge. Peter, an employee at another subsidiary of the involved headhunting group, confirmed to 36Kr that the order exists but said an individual receives roughly 400,000 to 500,000 yuan after internal splits. The episode reflects intense competition for scarce AI talent, with OpenAI, Meta, Google, Anthropic and other companies competing globally; Meta reportedly offered researcher Matt Deitke about $250 million over four years, while ByteDance’s Top Seed program offers more than 6 million yuan annually for certain roles. In Silicon Valley, demand is also accelerating for forward-deployed engineers, who implement AI directly with clients by integrating models, proprietary data, existing software and business workflows. Lightcast data showed postings for these roles rose more than 1,000% between January and August 2026 year over year and more than 4,600% from 2023, compared with 13% growth in the broader technology jobs market. Median advertised pay exceeded $188,000, versus roughly $145,000 for traditional software engineers, while some Anthropic roles offer as much as $400,000. The roles combine programming, machine learning, generative AI, infrastructure, consulting, communication and leadership skills. AI is automating parts of recruitment, but headhunters retain value by locating candidates who are not visible on public platforms and by applying deeper industry expertise.