'We need the smartest people' - we can afford. That last bit is the unspoken part. They want to maximize their headcount for a given budget. They're just respon

'We need the smartest people' - we can afford. That last bit is the unspoken part. They want to maximize their headcount for a given budget. They're just responding to market dynamics. Also, FAANG do not hire the smartest people. They have the budget to hoover up as many potentials as possible in order to keep them away from their competitors. The smart ones quickly realize this and leave.