Google is likely paying some AI employees to do nothing for a year instead of joining competitors, Business Insider reports.
Keeping top AI talent is becoming increasingly difficult amid fierce competition between Google, OpenAI and other giants. Google's AI division, DeepMind, is being forced to use "aggressive" non-compete agreements for some employees in the UK that prohibit them from working for competitors for up to a year.
Some are paid during this time, effectively taking an extended vacation. However, this practice can leave researchers feeling disconnected from the rapid developments in AI.
In the US, the Federal Trade Commission banned most non-compete agreements last year, but that does not apply to DeepMind's headquarters in London.
Last month, Microsoft's vice president of AI posted a message on X about how DeepMind employees were reaching out to him "in desperation" over difficulties with violating non-compete agreements.