Google’s prestigious AI division has suffered a major talent loss. Industry experts call this event a “brain drain.” The exodus began after Geoffrey Hinton resigned in May 2023. Hinton is known as the “Godfather of AI.” He left Google because he worries about AI’s potential dangers.
In the months that followed, 142 key AI researchers left the company. They moved to rivals like OpenAI and Meta. Top researchers received massive pay packages elsewhere. For example, OpenAI offered senior scientists packages up to $10 million. Money was a huge factor in the talent migration.
However, money was not the only reason for leaving. Former employees disliked Google’s internal culture shift. The company started focusing less on pure research. It demanded faster development and more emphasis on commercial products. Many researchers sought companies with quicker development cycles. This loss forces Google to speed up its product rollout. The talent drain has created a more competitive AI landscape across the industry.
