A recruitment pitch by Anton Osika, the cofounder and chief executive officer of Swedish AI startup Lovable, has reignited debate around job security in Silicon Valley after he claimed that American Big Tech firms are no longer viewed as the “safe, prestigious choice” for tech workers.
In a LinkedIn post, Osika directly appealed to employees impacted by recent layoffs at companies such as Google, Microsoft and Meta, as well as those worried about future job cuts.
“If you are on the job market this month or tired of wondering if you are next, consider Lovable,” Osika wrote. He added that the company was looking for people who wanted to do “the best work of their career” in a fast-paced environment.
The remarks come at a time when several large US technology firms continue reducing headcount despite posting strong profits and investing heavily in artificial intelligence infrastructure and products.
Lovable is attempting to use that uncertainty to attract engineering and product talent. The Stockholm-based AI software company, known for its vibe coding platform, is reportedly planning to hire around 400 employees globally this year. The company currently has about 200 employees worldwide and was recently valued at $6.6 billion.
The startup has also announced a compensation initiative aimed at retaining staff. According to comments shared with CNBC by chief people officer Maryanne Caughey, employees whose work anniversaries fall between July 2026 and July 2027 will receive a 10% salary increase.
“We wanted compensation to recognize the contributions that we really think compound over time,” Caughey said. “Our belief is that the longer someone’s here, the more context they carry, and the more impact they can have.”
Osika also suggested that a broader shift was underway in the global technology industry, with European AI startups increasingly challenging Silicon Valley’s dominance in attracting talent.
For years, companies such as Google and Meta were seen as offering a combination of prestige, high salaries and stability. However, repeated rounds of layoffs across the tech sector over the past two years have weakened that perception and opened opportunities for newer AI firms to position themselves as alternative employers for skilled workers.