Google Is Paying AI Researchers to Sit Idle for a Year to Block Rivals
Lloyd
Google Is Paying AI Researchers to Sit Idle for a Year to Block Rivals
Talent wars in AI are becoming more ruthless than ever. I’ve recently uncovered a startling strategy that Google’s DeepMind is allegedly using to retain its best minds: paying them not to work—literally. Image:Google Why Google Is Paying AI Talent to Do Nothing According to a Business Insider report, Google’s DeepMind has implemented aggressive noncompete agreements for some of its U.K.-based AI researchers. These contracts prevent them from jumping ship to rivals like OpenAI or Microsoft for up to a year. What’s more, these individuals are being paid throughout their forced downtime. For many, this sounds like a dream vacation—but the reality is far more complicated. The Human Toll of Forced Downtime Being sidelined for a year in the fast-paced AI space can feel like career stagnation. Business Insider mentioned that some researchers feel isolated from the rapid progress of the industry. It's a strange paradox—being compensated generously but still feeling left behind. DeepMind may b…
