Most companies taking VC money are doing that, not just AI companies. A startup a friend works at had a company offsite earlier this year, like 50 people, that cost almost $300k for a few days. They rented fancy airbnbs, went on booze cruises, rented out an axe throwing place with full bar, catered multi thousand dollar breakfast/lunches everyday to their offsite venue. They spent one day doing myers brigs tests (LOL). They have lavish perks and benefits for a company with debt, making no money, and have "leadership" that can't even manage a paper bag, let alone a company. When interviewing SWEs, they spend more time on their emotional intelligence and culture fit than technical interviews. The founders are being lectured by a 'head of people' who just runs this playbook at every company they work at, quickly bowing out after 2 years, before destroying the next VC backed startup.