US military forces on Friday killed an al Qaeda affiliate leader, identified as Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, linked to an Islamic State attack on Americans in Syria last month, the US Central Command said in a statement on Saturday. The Central Command said Bilal Hasan al-Jasim had "direct ties" to an
MAHA TET result 2025: The Maharashtra State Council of Examination (MSCE) declared the most awaited Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (MAHA TET) result 2025 on Friday, 16 January. Candidates who appeared for the exam can check their scorecard at the official website of the State Council, mahatet
Yes Bank Q3 Results: Private sector lender Yes Bank on Saturday reported a 55.4% year-on-year surge in its net profit to Rs 952 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2025. Its net interest income (NII), which is the difference between the interest earned and interest expended, rose 10
Private sector lender ICICI Bank on Saturday reported a 4.02 per cent fall in its standalone net profit to Rs 11,317.86 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2025. Its net profit had stood at Rs 11,792.42 crore in the corresponding period last year, according to a regulatory filing
Happy Patel Khatarnak Jasoos Box Office: Emmy-winning comedian Vir Das makes his directorial debut as the film hits theatres yesterday - Check day 01 collection. Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos Box Office Collection: Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos, directed by and starring Vir Das
President Donald Trump has clashed with major US oil companies over investment plans in Venezuela, saying he may block Exxon Mobil after its CEO called the country “uninvestable.” Trump wants oil firms to invest heavily to boost supply and keep oil prices low
For years, Sudan has existed in the global imagination as a peripheral crisis – periodically erupting into violence, then fading back into obscurity. The civil war that started in April 2023 has now lasted more than 1,000 days. Sudan is now the site of the world's largest displacement crisis
Indian influencer Tanya Khanijow's viral video sparks a massive debate on why Singapore "works." Discover the historical link to Kolkata, the status of the Tamil language, and the water systems studied by space agencies. An urban-planning, travel video posted by Indian influencer Tanya Khanijow
In a cooling job market, AI pros still hold the cards
Sitting on multiple job offers may be a thing of the past for most technology professionals, but not so for artificial intelligence talent.
AI professionals are getting not just multiple offers but also counter-offers from existing employers and big incentives. New job offers and counteroffers currently come with 25-70% pay hikes for AI professionals, executives at search firms and recruitment services firms said. This trend is only going to get stronger in 2026, they told ET.
Apart from direct monetary benefits, companies are offering stock options along with fast vesting, paid research leaves, sabbaticals, project-choice or mentorship privileges, relocation allowance and family support to entice experienced AI talent that is in short supply. Some candidates are also offered founder-style packages that often include outcome-linked bonuses among other perks.
"We are seeing a very strong demand for mid- and senior-level AI professionals, especially in areas such as GenAI, data science and AI engineering," CIEL HR chief executive Aditya Mishra said. "Competition is intense and candidates are often holding multiple offers."
A senior engineer in GenAI with six years of experience was offered a package of around Rs 40 lakh, at a 33% hike. He declined, as he had received a 61% hike from a rival tech company, Mishra said, underscoring the demand. ETtech Many candidates are not just looking at higher pay, but also flexibility options.
Another executive at a recruitment services company running a mandate for an IT services firm said a few months ago it offered a 35% hike to a senior data scientist with 11 years of experience. "But he chose to drop out of the process when he got another role with a 50% hike, along with the flexibility of working from home, compared to a strict five-day office policy in the earlier offer," the executive said on the condition of anonymity.
The typical range for counteroffers is 25-55% for senior AI talent, said Ratna Gupta, senior partner at executive search firm ABC Consultants. "But for critical hires or leadership mandates, they can even exceed 70%."
In some high-profile cases, CEOs of midsize to large tech firms are personally engaging in recruiting top AI talent, said an executive at a search firm.
In the broader tech industry, offer reneging, which was very frequent immediately after the pandemic, started cooling from mid-to-late 2024, as hiring slowed and budgets became tighter, Gupta said.
But AI talent is a different story. Instances of candidates rejecting offers are more prevalent and rising, too.
According to Gupta of ABC, there is a war out there for AI talent, and companies are ready to go out of the way to hire the right people. "Factors beyond salary, like remote work, equity and project ownership, are often decisive. If an offer does not check these boxes, candidates don't hesitate to walk away," she said.
This demand is coming from not only big technology firms, but also from midsize to small IT firms, startups and even conglomerates.
"Startups and midsize companies are offering aggressive 'founder-style' packages for senior AI talent," said an expert.
"AI is an outlier (when compared to traditional tech roles) with over 60% hikes," said Pranshu Upadhyay, head of India technology practice at recruitment firm Michael Page.
According to him, many AI professionals are not only sitting on multiple offers but also have aggressive counteroffers from their current companies.
"With the same level of experience, say 10-plus years, there could be a huge difference in pay packages of someone with traditional tech skills (like Rs 50 lakh per annum) vs someone with AI skills (over Rs 1.3 crore)," Upadhyay said.
Source: EconomicTimes
Related Posts: Bengaluru man sells dosa batter before full-time job to educate daughter Reports suggest Microsoft may announce job cuts in January US job creation in 2025 slows to weakest since Covid Google parent joins elite $4-trillion market cap club Meta, BlackRock, Citigroup Begin Year With Hundreds Of Job Cuts India's Private Equity Market Rebounds 44% In Q4 2025 India Becomes 1st Market Outside US To Start Local Production Of Maybach GLS Rs 25 Lakh Salary With 1 Year Experience -- Bengaluru Job Listing Goes Viral Earnings, supportive policies to help stock market navigate global headwinds Quick commerce market heats up
Africa Cup of Nations final: It's a clash of titans as Morocco faces Senegal in the ultimate battle for the Africa Cup of Nations trophy. With both teams eyeing their second victory, Morocco enjoys the advantage of local supporters, while Senegal's Teranga Lions are steeled for the contest
Just now
A grand religious gathering planned in Tirunavaya, Kerala, facing unexpected challenges with a stop order for a temporary bridge. This controversy, however, generated massive free publicity. Local support emerged from various communities, including Muslim merchants and the state government
Just now
A twist has emerged in the Goa murder case after a Russian national allegedly confessed to additional killings, with investigators indicating that the two women earlier found dead may not be the only victims.A twist has emerged in the Goa murder case after a Russian national allegedly confessed to
Just now
The Malegaon local body elections signal a shift in voting patterns, with Muslim voters increasingly supporting parties explicitly representing their community, sidelining traditional secular parties. Analysts warn the “Malegaon Model” could influence political dynamics in other
Just now
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned that United States tariffs on its allies are detrimental. She believes these actions weaken prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic. Kallas stated that China and Russia are the primary beneficiaries of such divisions among allies
Just now
Music composer AR Rahman in an interview to BBC Asian Network said that the Hindi film industry has changed over the past eight years, attributing it to a shift in power and possibly to “a communal thing”. His remarks sparked a political row
Just now
US President Donald Trump's apparently coercive threat to force Western allies not to oppose his proposed annexation of Greenland, or face further damage to their trade with the US, is without both parallel and precedent. We've had some unusual and unexpected economic threats from President Trump
Just now
Indian women's football stalwart Ashalata Devi believes the dream of seeing the country play at the FIFA Women's World Cup remains alive. However, she emphasises that sustained progress at the grassroots level is crucial to bridging the gap with the world's elite
Just now
Thousands of angry Greenlanders gathered in protest against US President Donald Trump on Saturday, waving their national flag and chanting “Greenland is not for sale” in support of their own self-governance in the face of increasing threats of an American takeover
Just now
Sitting on multiple job offers may be a thing of the past for most technology professionals, but not so for artificial intelligence talent.AI professionals are getting not just multiple offers but also counter-offers from existing employers and big incentives
Just now
Tarot Card Reading Horoscope Today For January 18: Step into the mystical realm as the tarot cards reveal what the universe has in store for you today. Whether you're seeking clarity in love, career, or personal growth, today's tarot insights offer powerful guidance tailored to your zodiac sign
Just now
The European Union on Saturday said negotiations on a proposed EU–US trade deal have been put on hold following President Donald Trump's decision to impose fresh tariffs on Denmark and several other European countries, linking the move to his renewed push to acquire Greenland
Just now
Delhi-NCR Weather Alert: Visuals from near the Delhi-Noida-Delhi (DND) flyway and surrounding areas showed a dense layer of fog blanketing the region. Meanwhile, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) announced the reimplementation of Stage-IV measures under the Graded Response Action
Just now
UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is set to visit India on Monday, aiming to strengthen the strategic partnership amidst regional shifts. This visit, building on a strong personal rapport with PM Modi, follows a series of high-level engagements and significant growth in bilateral ties
Just now
Delhi residents woke up to ‘severe' air quality on Sunday morning as toxic smog blanketed the capital city. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a cold wave alert as minimum temperature dropped below 5 degrees Celsius at multiple locations
Just now
India have not lost a bilateral ODI series at home since March 2019, when Australia overturned a 0-2 deficit to win 3–2, including the decider in Delhi. But that history is now firmly on the line. The Black Caps have toured India for bilateral ODIs since 1989 but have never won a series in
Just now
Things went from bad to worse for the India Open 2026 as the women's doubles semifinal clash between the Chinese duo of Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning of China and the South Korean pairing of Baek Ha Na-Lee So Hi on Saturday. The fixture that ended 21-12, 17-21
Just now
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- When reports spread that users on X were asking the platform's AI chatbot, Grok, to turn photos of celebrities and non-public figures — including minors — into sexualized images, public outrage rightly focused on the violation inflicted on the victims
Just now
Arsenal may have stretched their lead at the top of Premier League to seven points on Saturday, but the goalless draw at Nottingham Forest will have left many Gunners fans reflecting on another missed opportunity. Manchester City's 2-0 loss at Old Trafford offered Arsenal the chance to move nine
Just now
US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced 10% tariffs on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, UK, Netherlands, and Finland starting February 1, 2026 in a major push towards aquisition of Greenland. The imposed tariff escalating to 25% from June 1
Just now
The Indian Embassy in Tehran on Saturday urged Iranian authorities to grant consular access to 16 Indians who were part of a ship's crew and were detained by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on December 8. The detained persons were aboard the vessel MT Valiant Roar
Just now
Khamenei termed US President Donald Trump a "criminal," accused the United States of planning the unrest with the aim of "swallowing up Iran," and held Trump responsible for the killings and destruction in the recent riots in Iran. Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei boasted on Saturday that the
Just now
India Vs New Zealand 3rd ODI Live Cricket Score and Updates, IND VS NZ: The stage is set for a thrilling series decider at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore as Shubman Gill-led India face Michael Bracewell's New Zealand in the 3rd and final ODI
Just now
Modi, speaking at a Bodo folk dance performance here, also asserted that the BJP government was "cleansing the sins" of the previous Congress regimes. Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the Congress of disrespecting the culture and heritage of Assam
Just now
Shah Rukh Khan's return to Don 3 will not involve Jawan director Atlee, as rumours of his participation have been confirmed false. Following Ranveer Singh's exit from Don 3, speculation has been swirling about the direction of the iconic franchise
Just now
A threat by President Donald Trump to impose fresh tariffs on eight allies opposed to his proposed takeover of Greenland has drawn condemnation from European leaders. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the move was "completely wrong", while French President Emmanuel Macron called it "unacceptable"
Just now
High computing solutions firm Netweb Technologies on Saturday posted its highest-ever quarterly profit with about a two and half times jump in profit after tax (PAT) at Rs 733.1 crore in the October-December period. The company's performance was driven by demand for artificial intelligence
Just now
