IIT-Bombay Alum Quits ₹8 Crore Meta AI Job After Just 5 Months to Chase Greater Risks

A tech story worthy of a film script unfolded today as Rishabh Agarwal, an IIT-Bombay graduate and AI researcher, surprised the industry by resigning from his million-dollar-per-year role at Meta—just five months into the job. He stepped away from the elite Superintelligence lab to embrace what he calls “a different kind of risk,” echoing the advice of none other than Mark Zuckerberg himself.

From Top of the Tech World to a Leap of Faith

Agarwal’s journey read like a tech odyssey—after shining at IIT-Bombay and earning a PhD from the Mila–Quebec AI Institute, he worked with Game Changers like Google Brain and DeepMind. In April, Meta lured him with a massive package to join its Superintelligence team. Yet, as he put it on X, the pull to take on a novel challenge outweighed the perks of stability—even among the world’s best AI minds.

The Buzz Inside Meta’s AI Lab

While at Meta, Agarwal worked on cutting-edge AI research—from refining dense 8-bit models close to top-tier performance, to synthetic data training and advanced distillation techniques. His exit is part of a broader pattern: Meta’s Superintelligence division has seen several high-profile departures, despite its aggressive recruitment from OpenAI, Google, and Apple.

Why This Matters Beyond Silicon Valley

For Tier 2 city graduates with big dreams—places like Kanpur, Vijayawada, or Nagpur—Agarwal’s path offers a rare, powerful lesson. He shows that even the brightest opportunities don’t guarantee fulfillment—and that true risk sometimes lies in stepping away from the comfort zone.

What’s Next for the AI Prodigy?

Agarwal declined to tease his next move, but hinted that his heart lies in uncharted paths. His departure will likely fuel speculation, and whether he starts a bold new venture, joins another lab, or charts his own course remains anyone’s guess.

Conclusion
Rishabh Agarwal’s choice to walk away from a top-tier role isn’t about running from success. It’s about defining it on his own terms. His story isn’t just about AI—it’s about courage, conviction, and choosing the road less certain. For many across India, that message resonates more than any paycheck ever could.