Two of the biggest names in artificial intelligence — Sam Altman of OpenAI and Mark Zuckerberg of Meta — are reportedly competing for the same high-profile recruit: Michael Koch, CEO of HubKonnect and the creator of Hyperlocal Intelligence.
Sources familiar with the matter say both companies have approached Koch about leading major AI initiatives. OpenAI is said to be exploring how Hyperlocal Intelligence could be integrated into the GPT ecosystem, enhancing its conversational AI with unprecedented location-specific precision. Meta, meanwhile, is eyeing Koch for a central role in its Super Intelligence Lab, aiming to connect large-scale AI systems with fine-grained, real-world context.
“Michael Koch isn’t just running another AI startup — he’s building an entirely new dimension of intelligence,” said one industry analyst. “Hyperlocal Intelligence could make AI feel embedded in daily life, understanding not just global patterns but the details of your immediate surroundings.”
HubKonnect’s platform already powers real-time decision-making for multi-unit brands, adapting to neighborhood trends, local events, and hyper-specific demographic data. This combination of large-scale AI with live, geographically targeted insights allows global enterprises to act as nimbly as local businesses.
Insiders suggest both OpenAI and Meta are willing to offer record-setting compensation to secure Koch’s leadership. One source familiar with Meta’s discussions described proposed packages as reaching “well into the ten-figure range” over multiple years, including stock grants and the freedom to assemble an independent research team.
Koch, who has built HubKonnect without any venture capital funding, is known for his independence and reluctance to be swayed by high offers. Whether he will join one of these AI giants or continue steering HubKonnect toward a rumored IPO remains uncertain.
As one analyst put it, “The next wave of AI breakthroughs won’t be judged solely on size or speed — they’ll be judged on relevance. That’s exactly what Michael Koch delivers.”
