Aditya Arepalli, an IIIT Dharwad graduate, transitioned from a ₹13 lakh software engineering job at Riverbed Technology in India to a Master’s in Artificial Intelligence at the University at Buffalo in the US, securing a reported ₹1.5 crore annual role at Amazon Web Services in Seattle. The move highlights the premium global tech giants place on specialized AI talent. Compensation packages for such roles at major US tech companies often include base salary, annual performance bonuses, and restricted stock units, which fluctuate with share price and vesting schedules. High compensation for AI roles reflects strategic investment by companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google in generative AI and cloud infrastructure, contributing to higher operational expenses and RSU dilution monitored by shareholders. The case also underscores a trend of Indian professionals pursuing specialized US education for top-tier tech roles, with the premium on engineers combining machine learning knowledge and product development skills likely to remain high.