Stanford Artificial Intelligence Index Report 2026
We’ve reached an inflection point.
Zeki Data is proud to provide unbiased, vetted talent data for the Stanford AI Index 2026.
As leading AI authors and inventors become increasingly mobile, Zeki provides evidence on where they are moving, and which countries are emerging as magnets for top AI talent.
WATCH THE WEBINAR
You’ve seen the data. Now understand what it means.
Zeki’s data in the 2026 Stanford AI Index reveals a major shift in global AI talent—but the real story sits beneath the charts. In this webinar, we unpack what the data actually signals about talent mobility, national competitiveness, and where the next AI advantage is forming.
Watch on demand our 30 minute deep dive into the insights behind the R&D chapter—what’s driving these movements, why the US is losing ground, and how leaders can interpret these signals to anticipate what comes next.
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Talent Diagnostics
Know if a promising start-up has the talent to deliver on the hype or if a market leader is making major talent moves.
recent ANTHROPIC & OPENAI report insight
Rapid Hiring to Scale Revenue
OpenAI’s hiring pace remains strong.
The company opened more than 700 roles between September 2025 and January 2026—its busiest period yet. Open‑role data suggests hiring will continue near current levels, with a clear shift toward GTM and infrastructure over research.
Anthropic is accelerating too.
After years of cautious growth, Anthropic added over 350 employees in Q3 2025 and sustained elevated hiring into Q4. Its plans to rapidly expand internationally and scale applied AI reinforce the same trend: GTM and infrastructure now outweigh research‑led growth.
Recent companies assessed by Zeki’s Talent Diagnostic
Buy our latest report: Inside the neolabs
Inside the NeoLabs maps the emergence of a new class of AI companies: neolabs—small, elite teams formed by researchers leaving Big Tech and hyperscale AI labs to pursue fundamentally new approaches to intelligence.
Built on Zeki’s proprietary talent and research signals, this report shows where frontier AI is really being built, who is building it, and which companies are most likely to turn scientific ambition into commercial outcomes.
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Elite AI Innovators Dataset
The Elite AI Innovators Dataset captures the top 1% of talent shaping the future of AI—across research, engineering, go‑to‑market leadership, and founders.
Unlike researcher‑only lists, this dataset identifies elite performers across the core roles that actually build, scale, and commercialise AI, using rigorously curated, multi‑signal intelligence trusted by leading AI labs and VC firms.
Every recent AI unicorn and decacorn has been founded or built by individuals within this dataset. Tracking where this talent moves—who they join, what they found, and where new teams form—provides an early signal on which ideas, companies, and geographies will matter next.
Dataset Details:
Coverage
– 150+ Top AI Labs
– Up to 70 variables per
individual
– 25,000+ individuals
Unique Intelligence
– 98% accuracy
– Human-in-the-loop
verified
– High achiever indicators
Delivery-ready
– Immediately available
– Updated quarterly
– An intelligence layer to
enable precision filtering
Multi-layered intelligence
– Awards and distinction signals
– Career performance and trajectory scoring
– Verified scored innovation outputs
– Leadership indicators
Interested?
Access a Sample Dataset.
Because talent leads strategy, funding, and breakthroughs, this dataset is designed not just to describe the AI landscape, but to predict where it is heading.
Access a free sample of the Elite AI Innovators dataset, featuring 20 individuals with research backgrounds (names and links are anonymised) by filling out this form.
An invitation-only hiring platform for exceptional engineering & GTM talent
Zeki Talent Market (ZTM) flips the traditional hiring experience.
Launching in July 2026, ZTM uses Zeki’s proprietary intelligence to match exceptional candidates with high‑growth companies using evidence—not CVs or guesswork.
Every candidate is rigorously vetted against data from 30,000+ sources before being invited.
For candidates, ZTM replaces mass applications and cold outreach with direct access to companies with funding that are hiring decisively.
Talent - Join the waitlist
Only the most qualified innovators will be invited from the waitlist to join the Zeki Talent Market.
Companies - Register your interest for early access
Selected companies will be contacted directly by email.
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From exclusive actionable talent trends to emerging strategies shaping the future of deep-tech, we decode what’s happening— and what’s next—so you don’t miss a beat.