When your best engineers keep getting phone calls from rivals, you start writing bigger checks. ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, is rolling out a targeted equity incentive program for its Seed AI division, offering monthly stock option grants to keep its artificial intelligence talent from walking out the door.
The move comes as China’s tech giants are locked in an increasingly aggressive battle over AI researchers and engineers, with companies like Tencent and DeepSeek reportedly picking off skilled professionals from competitors at a pace that’s forcing the entire industry to rethink compensation.
What the incentive package looks like
Under the new plan, employees in ByteDance’s Seed AI division will receive monthly stock option grants ranging from 90,000 to 130,000 units. The exact amount depends on performance reviews and seniority level.
These options vest over 18 months, which is the retention mechanic at work. Walk away early and you leave money on the table.
